Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has set out a £3 billion green jobs plan to “serve the interests of the 100,000 square miles of the UK” rather than the City of London.

The party plans to invest in wind energy, energy efficiency in public buildings and homes, and in bringing empty homes back into use through renovation.

Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff, Mr Clegg said for decades a succession of Labour and Conservative governments had run Britain to “serve the interests of one square mile - the City of London”.

He said: “We want to build a new economy which serves the interests of the 100,000 square miles of the UK, where we have growth that lasts.”

The Liberal Democrats plan to create a one-year green job stimulus plan, for which £3.1 billion of cuts in government expenditure would be used to bring 200,000 empty properties back into use, and invest in new green energy infrastructure and public transport.

There would also be a “90-day guarantee” for young people, who would be offered a place of training, work or apprenticeship after 90 days of unemployment, so they were not “left in a state of despair”.

Mr Clegg said: “We need all this infrastructure in any event but, of course, investing in that infrastructure is the best way to create jobs, particularly for young people today.”

He also declared that the General Election campaign was “starting to come to life” as a clutch of opinion polls showed an upsurge in support for the Liberal Democrats.

“I think this General Election campaign is starting to come to life for the simple reason that a growing number of people are starting to believe, starting to hope, that we can do something different this time,” he said.

Further evidence of the surge in support for the Lib Dems came in a YouGov poll for The Sun which put Mr Clegg’s party in the lead with 33% (up three points since a similar poll on Saturday). The Conservatives were on 32% (down one point), with Labour trailing on 26% (down two).

From the Press Association