Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has praised The Salvation Army for its work with the marginalised and socially excluded as he spoke of his vision for a more equal society.

He spoke of the importance of equal opportunities for children and a fair society in Britain in a speech at the The Salvation Army's UK and Ireland territorial headquarters in London on Monday.

Education in the early years was, he said, important for tackling inequality. He called for parents and schools to work together to ensure children get the best possible start in life.

Mr Clegg was delivering the first in a series of social justice lectures with senior politicians being hosted by The Salvation Army in the run up to the general election, which must be held by June 3.

He praised the work of The Salvation Army to reach the "the most distressing distressing, most hidden, parts of our society where you help people without judgement, without prejudice, without expectation".

He said it was an ethos which "represents the best side of all of us".

Mr Clegg was recently out on the streets with The Salvation Army in his Sheffield Hallam constituency.

He claimed the Lib Dems and The Salvation Army shared the belief that the fortunes of someone’s life should not be decided at their birth.

He said: "A person’s fate shouldn’t be settled by their sex, their colour, their postcode, or their parents’ bank balance. In a fair society no one can tell you to lower your sights because - no matter how hard you try - the things you dream of somehow aren’t for you."

Mr Clegg added that the task was to restore hope to the nation.

"Our big task now is giving people back their hope. It’s something the Salvation Army does every day with people who have problems with drink or drugs, women escaping violent relationships, prisoners coming to terms with their pasts. It’s how you help people turn their lives around. We’re only going to turn this country around if we do the same and make people believe it is possible," he said.

Lieut-Colonel Marion Drew, Secretary for Communications for The Salvation Army, said: "This was an unprecedented opportunity to hear from one of our nation's major political leaders as we approach the run-up to a general election.

"As a charity, The Salvation Army is politically neutral so and we are offering each of the major political parties an opportunity to share their vision for social justice.”