David Cameron is to launch a controversial Conservative advertisement claiming the party has halved the deficit while in government.
In a sign that a long election campaign has now begun, the prime minister will launch the poster at an event in Yorkshire on Friday, with billboards due to go up across the country.
The headline slogan of the poster, “Let’s Stay on the Road to a Stronger Economy”, is superimposed over an image of a long straight road running through countryside, which is blended into a Union flag. It goes on to list the government’s achievements as being “1.75 million more people in work”, “760,000 more businesses” and “the deficit halved”.
The deficit claim had already been questioned, as this is only true if measured as a proportion of national income. In cash terms, it has only been reduced by about a third.
The Labour MP Chris Bryant accused the Conservatives of skewing the truth, saying it was a “bit troubling when [the] first Tory campaign poster has a fib”.
George Osborne, the chancellor, will be promoting the campaign launch on Friday as he visits a business in the West Midlands.
With just over four months to go before the election, the leaders of the two main parties are already expected to start spending more time talking to voters instead of working at Westminster.
Both parties have established their “narratives” for the election, with the Conservatives planning to focus on their economic record, and Labour promising to address the cost of living and reduce inequality.
Ed Miliband is likely to give a major speech early next week. The Labour leader’s new year message had a strongly positive tone, as he sought to present the party as one of hope and change.
“As this New Year dawns, we have the chance to change direction; a chance to build a recovery for all of Britain … This year, we have the power to bring about the change working families all over Britain need. This isn’t about idle dreams or empty promises. It’s about a real, concrete plan: a plan for a recovery which reaches your kitchen table.”
With the polls continuing to show a stubborn lead for Miliband, the Conservatives are expected to start bombarding the public with their political messages over the coming weeks.
Cameron’s new year message and opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph warned of chaos if Labour returned to power. It also made the claim that the Conservatives were not just improving the economy but “changing British values” in favour of hard work.
