Milburn accused of spin

Labour's election co-ordinator Alan Milburn was embroiled in a spin row today over claims that the party is trying to scare its supporters into voting.

He warned that Labour's private polling showed it was locked in a "tight race" in the key marginal constituencies which will decide the general election. His comments came after a carefully leaked report suggested the party's polls revealed it was neck-and-neck with the Tories in up to 100 seats. A Mori poll for the Financial Times also suggested Labour's lead had been cut to only two points among those certain to vote. But Mr Milburn faced claims that he was overstating the closeness of the race in a bid to persuade wavering Labour supporters to turn out on 5 May. Even a two-point lead would deliver Tony Blair a majority of more than 80 seats.

Mr Milburn told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "In the marginal seats, where in the end

the election will be decided, this is a tight race. We have always said that this is an election that is going to be decided on turnout. The worry for us is that the propensity to vote among Conservative voters seems to be higher than the propensity to vote among Labour voters."

He claimed the Tories are running a negative "grievance-based, protest campaign" in the hope of winning by the back door.

"They are now into this phase where, I think as a final act of desperation, because their economic plan has disintegrated under pressure, their immigration [plan] has disintegrated under pressure, they're now playing dead because they think that's the best hope of staying alive," he said.

The internal report for Mr Milburn suggested the number of people certain to vote is around 56 per cent - three per cent down on the 2001 turnout. "None of the polls are showing the steady rise in the definite-to-vote group there was four years ago," it says.

Based on "analysis, feedback and canvass returns", the report highlights four marginals where Labour is deadlocked with the Tories - Hammersmith and Fulham, Forest of Dean, Hove and Shipley. It also claims its campaign is "very difficult" in London suburbs such as Enfield North, Croydon Central and Harrow West.

But Labour's real purpose in leaking its polling was underlined when a senior Labour source was reported as saying: "We will offer people hope for the third term, but we will also give them a little push - with fear". The comment contrasts with Mr Blair's repeated claim that it is the Tories who are trying to scare voters on issues such as immigration.

The Mori poll for the FT puts Labour on 36 per cent, the Tories on 34 per cent and Lib-Dems on 23 per cent. It shows 80 per cent of Tory supporters definitely intend to vote. Labour's comparable figure is 64 per cent.