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Economic Development

John Hemming's Yardley seat in Labour crosshairs

Yardley is one of 14 Liberal Democrat seats across the country where Labour claims it can win at the next General Election

John Hemming, is Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley

Labour leader Ed Miliband is gunning for Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming.

Yardley is one of 14 Liberal Democrat seats across the country where Labour claims it can win at the next General Election.

And the party is focusing on squeezing the Lib Dem vote with a series of campaign stunts.

They include a controversial party political broadcast showing Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg breaking his promises to the voters because he wants to be friends with posh Tories. Critics have accused Labour of class warfare because the film portrays David Cameron and colleagues as bullying, out-of-touch toffs.

Labour activists have also been supplied with props including signs to hold up in the shape of a coin – showing Mr Clegg on one side and Mr Cameron on the other because they are “two sides of the same coin”.

And senior Labour politician is to visit Birmingham Yardley on May 10, in what Labour is calling a campaign action day.

But the party insists that behind the gimmicks is a serious message, It wants to highlight Government decisions to increase student tuition fees, cut tax on earnings above £100,000 from 50 per cent to 45 per cent and increase VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent, which were only possible with Lib Dem support, according to Labour.

Mr Hemming said he could win in Yardley again – but urged supporters of other parties to back him.