THE Conservatives taunted the Labour Party leader, Mr Tony Blair, over his positions on Europe and privatisation as the two issues were sent back to the top of the election campaign agenda yesterday.
While the Prime Minister, Mr John Major, criticised Labour's plan to sign up to the Social Chapter warning that it would cause "very great damage," the Labour leader was forced to defend his position on privatisation as it emerged the party was less than clear on whether it would privatise air traffic control. Meanwhile both parties were challenged by the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Mr Paddy Ashdown, to explain how they would pay for their manifesto pledges.
Speaking at an election rally in Staffordshire last night, Mr Major launched a personal attack on Mr Blair, describing his plan to sign up to the Social Chapter as "the unions' fast track to Europe. The unions have long seen Europe as the back door to power in Britain. While Margaret Thatcher and I have been in charge, that backs door has stayed firmly bolted. Does he trust Brussels more than Westminster?" The shadow Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, dismissed Mr Major's claim as "dishonest".
Mr Major concentrated on the issue of trust throughout the day as the Tory campaign trail gathered steam during a visit to factories in Staffordshire and Nottingham. Forcing Labour back on the defensive over privatisation and repeating his claim that Labour could not be trusted on tax, Mr Major said Mr Blair changed his mind so often "he has a day return ticket to Damascus".
The side swipe at Labour's plans for privatisation came after a letter emerged yesterday from a national officer with the Institute of Professionals, Managers and Specialists. In it the man claimed he had been given assurances from Labour's transport team in March that the party would not privatise air traffic control at Britain's airports. Labour has been clearly embarrassed over the issue because the letter comes only weeks after the Shadow Trade Secretary, Mrs Margaret Beckett, said the party would not rule out the possibility. The Conservatives seized upon the opportunity to ridicule Labours "U turn", saying Labour's policy had descended "into black farce".
Earlier in the day, Mr Blair faced tough questioning over his decision to send his son to a grant maintained school. At a morning, news conference one journalist asked Mr Blair why the Labour manifesto backed guidelines which prevented other parents from sending their children to grant maintained schools. In clipped tones, Mr Blair replied: "You are quite wrong. The Oratory [his son's school] is a church school. They have operated the guidelines that they have operated for many years.
As Labour sources admitted the election campaign was "hotting up", a Harris poll today shows Labour's lead over the Tories is holding at 22 per cent. However, Mr Major has made much political mileage over the results of a Mori poll which shows that Labour lead over the Conservatives has fallen by 12 points, from 27 to 15 per cent. Mr Major said last night Labour had begun to "crumble, crumple and crash" to the ground under the first bit of real pressure. They are there to be beaten.