Labour’s new message: vote Tory for financial recklessness | Simon Jenkins
The election campaign has hit its paradox moment. Vote Tory for reckless, unfunded public spending. Vote Labour for extreme fiscal responsibility. This week's manifestos, starting with Labour today, cannot be taken at face value. They are opening bids for the manifesto that dares not speak its name, the outcome of post-election coalition treaties, winks and nods. But the noise is important, the tone of voice, the mentions and the silences.
From the moment last week when the Tories were panicked on the NHS and promised to fill its "funding gap" with 8bn from nowhere, the invitation was there for Labour to retaliate. It has done so, with a pledge of no unfunded promises: "Every policy in this manifesto is paid for without a single penny of extra borrowing."
Related: This Tory manifesto is Cameron's last chance to give voters a stake in Britain | Matthew d'Ancona
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