Tories target Labour tax plans

Michael Portillo and William Hague will unveil the campaign

Conservatives are launching a poster campaign featuring a series of slogans attacking what they describe as the Government's "tax and waste" spending policies.

A high-profile unveiling is expected for the poster campaign William Hague hopes will place tax at the heart of the general election campaign.

New slogans

You've paid the tax, so where's your operation?

You've paid the tax, so where are the teachers?

You've paid the tax, so where are the trains?

You've paid the tax, so where are the police?

The posters will cite areas where the Conservatives claim Labour has failed, such as on police numbers, the health service and teachers.

Placed across the UK, the posters will carry slogans such as: "You've paid the tax, so where are the police?"

Mr Hague will be joined on Tuesday by shadow chancellor Michael Portillo to unveil the posters at a press conference outside the party's central London headquarters.

They hope to reiterate their message that under Labour "things aren't getting any better".

The pair will say "stealth" rises mean the tax burden is up by the equivalent of nearly 10p on the basic rate of income tax despite Labour pledges not to increase taxes.

"Under Labour we have all paid higher taxes and now we want to know where all the money has gone," a Tory spokeswoman said.

Poster attacks before the last election drew criticism

"After collecting an extra £25 billion in taxes all this government has left us with is longer waiting lists, bigger classes in secondary schools, rising crime with falling police numbers and a transport system in chaos.

"The tax burden is up by the equivalent of 10p on the basic rate of income tax after Tony Blair promised not to increase tax at all.

"The Conservatives begin the election year by speaking for all those who feel let down by Labour's failure to deliver on their promises."