Election '97: Parties battle over Labour's 'War Book'

Labour's battle plan for the election, revealing its assessment of both its and the Tories' weaknesses and strengths, was leaked by the Tories yesterday, provoking a row over its importance and relevance.

Brian Mawhinney, Conservative chairman, said the document, "War Book Version 3" "reflects very closely what has been happening over the last six months in what is quite clearly the most cynical political campaign ever seen in British politics." It correctly identified Labour's own perceived weaknesses, suggesting the Tories' decision to concentrate on Europe was a result of Labour accepting that it was seen as likely to sell out to Brussels.

Labour spin-doctors appeared unconcerned about its publication but Dr Mawhinney grabbed the evening headlines, knocking off Labour's announcement about the Lottery. Labour also hinted that it had similar documents relating to the Tories' plans but a source said: "We would not be stupid enough to publish them."

Tory candidates are being issued with extracts from the 30-page dossier to sharpen their campaigning on the doorstep by showing that Labour secretly feared it was weak on the "hidden left", the unions, the lack of experience of Tony Blair's team, and being evasive.

However, Dr Mawhinney failed to point out that the Labour analysis identified Labour's strengths as "Tony Blair - young, strong and dynamic, leadership"; and education, and the NHS were seen as "winning" issues for Labour. Labour sources last night said it was a year-old document, it was not their current election plan, and denied it was a summary of what Labour said about itself. Labour said it listed Tory claims about their own strengths.

The War Book lists both parties' strategies and plans, and outlines in detail Labour's plan for the five months in the run- up to the election. While much in the document, which is at least six months old, has happened as predicted, or has been announced subsequently by Labour, some lines of attack have been dropped by Labour and others have been added.

For example, a page referring to Tory pledges says: "You will pay to visit your school; you will pay more for books; you will pay VAT on books; there will be more crime: guns and knives still legal; you will pay for water through a meter." This line of attack was prepared in anticipation of announcements by the Tories. But there is no mention of things like privatisation of pensions, which clearly surprised Labour.

There is also a fascinating reference to the 15 key seats in the Pennine belt, where internal Labour polling suggests local people are more concerned with tax and less bothered about health and education than in the rest of the country. Labour's weaknesses are seen as money, fear of Labour, "what do they stand for" "why are they evasive", break-up of Britain and Labour councils.

Conservative strengths are the economy (inflation, interest rates and economic competence), patriotism (Europe, the Union), Mr Major (decent, honest) and continuity. Their weaknesses are "17 years too long", "for the few, not the many", Mr Major's weak leadership, division/disintegration, betrayal/trust, tax, NHS, education, crime.