Labour embarrassed as MPs [insert errors here]

Labour MPs have been left redfaced after sending out apparently personal letters with their towns described as "insert constituency".

The blunder involves a national Pride in Britain campaign organised by election chief Alan Milburn.

Watford MP Claire Ward put out a letter thanking "people here in St Albans who voted Labour" - giving the wrong constituency altogether.

South Derbyshire Labour MP Mark Todd wrote: "And now Michael Howard has committed his party to an immediate cut of ?20billion to vital front-line services if they win the next election. They haven't changed. (Constituency name) deserves better." And Erewash MP Elizabeth Blackman declared: "And nowhere can we be more proud than here in [constituency name]."

Around nine Labour MPs have sent out letters with the same mistakes, according to embarrassed insiders.

It follows the Evening Standard report that MPs have been fed with "identikit" letters and web pages to coach them into boasting about how proud they are of their local areas.

Mr Todd said: "I stand by page one of the letter which I wrote... This shows the difficulty of combining local and national messages in one campaign."