Tory ad warns of 拢45bn Labour tax and debt 'bombshell'
The Tories try to shift the focus to the economy, releasing a poster featuring an image of Jeremy Corbyn in front of a bomb.
Wednesday 3 May 2017 11:16, UK
A 拢45bn "black hole" in Labour's financial plans will trigger a tax and debt "bombshell" if the party is in government, the Conservatives have claimed.
The Tories have launched an attack poster featuring Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and a bomb behind his head, alongside the slogan: "Corbyn: No bombs for our Army. One big bombshell for your family."
Chancellor Philip Hammond and Brexit Secretary David Davis will look to focus the election battle on the economy at a joint campaign event later.
Mr Davis said: "Jeremy Corbyn's nonsensical and irresponsible ideas pose a grave risk to the future of Britain's economy and the finances of every family in the country.
"His many, ill-thought-through promises simply don't stack up and could not be paid for.
"The damage this bombshell would do to the country's finances if Corbyn's coalition of chaos were given the keys to Downing Street would be disastrous."
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The Conservatives have issued a dossier claiming the "black hole" would become apparent part way through the next parliament in 2019-2020 if Labour carries out its tax and spending commitments.
The use of attack posters against Labour over the economy has worked for the party in the past, including in 1992 when a picture of two giant boxing gloves ran with the slogan: "Labour's Double Whammy. 1. More Taxes. 2. Higher Prices."
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A Labour party spokesman said: "This is yet more nonsense from a Tory campaign that's all slogan and no substance.
"It's the latest desperate attempt to distance themselves from their failures and to distract from the fact that they've not ruled out hitting those on lower and middle incomes with further tax increases.
"Their false claims about Labour's plans in this campaign haven't been worth the paper they've been printed on; they've fallen apart before the ink has dried on their latest press releases.
"This will no doubt be no different with more claims that can't be backed up and misrepresentations of the truth. Labour's policies are fully costed and properly paid for."
Theresa May will visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to mark the dissolution of Parliament for the General Election.
