Labour’s eve of poll warning: “Vote UKIP, get Tories”

Labour have focussed their attacks on UKIP today, as we head towards the final twenty-four hours of campaigning with the anti-EU party neck-and-neck with us in the polls.

It’s clear now that the preferred strategy for dealing with the threat is to portray Farage as a hardline Thatcherite, rather than highlight UKIP’s anti-immigration policies or candidate gaffes, neither of which seem to dent the party’s ratings. The belief is that the Tory brand will still be toxic enough to discourage many Labour supporters who are considering UKIP from voting for them tomorrow.

Michael Dugher, the Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to Farage’s comments that he would be open to fielding joint candidates with the Tories, said:

“UKIP’s policies are more Tory than the Tories. We know David Cameron cut taxes for millionaires – but UKIP want even bigger tax cuts for millionaires; we know it’s harder to see your GP under David Cameron, but UKIP think the answer is to charge people to see their GP. Whether it’s deeper cuts to public services or scrapping workers’ rights, we have confirmation that Nigel Farage is actively considering shabby political deals with the Conservatives right across the country, only days after he said he’d do a deal to keep David Cameron in Number 10.

“The message is clear: vote UKIP and you don’t only get policies more extreme than the Tories, you also get David Cameron.”

Whatever happens tomorrow, Labour’s approach to the insurgent party is going to have to be carefully assessed.