Economy the battleground in election scrap

LABOUR must make the economy its battleground in the election fight - and not let Tories claim pride in their record since 2010, Oldham MP Michael Meacher warns.

Labour needs to make the “dire state” of the economy a prime electoral asset for the Left, the Oldham West and Royton MP added.

With two months before Parliament breaks up to campaign ahead of the election on May 7, Mr Meacher urged Labour chiefs to dismiss claims that standards of living have improved.

He said: “The simple truth is there is nothing at all about the Tory economic record since 2010 to be proud of.

“Wages will not recover their pre-crash level for a decade — if the;, productivity continues in the doldrums; business investment has never recovered, household debt is rising dangerously, and to cap it all the deficit is now starting to rise again.”

The veteran MP urged Labour leader Ed Miliband to hammer home the failings of Chancellor George Osborne and his claims about growth and jobs.