ATTEMPTS by the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, to kickstart the Tory election campaign by celebrating the largest fall in unemployment figures since records began was overshadowed yesterday by Labour's claims of a government cover up.
The alleged secrecy related to" the failure to publish the official report on the "cash for questions" affair before the general election.
Mr Major hailed the latest figures, showing a fall of 68,200 last month, as proof of the continuing economic recovery and denied Labour claims that they were "fiddled".
"Today's news is proof that Britain is booming. Unemployment is down to its lowest level for well over six years. Falling unemployment, stable prices, lower taxes, higher living standards, people's hard work have created a turbo economy, which is making life better right across the country," he said.
However, in an embarrassing gaffe the junior Employment Minister, Mr Eric Forth, appeared to concede that the jobless figures might actually be higher. Labour immediately seized on his admission, insisting it proved that the figures were fiddled.
"He has let the cat out of the bag. Even the minister in charge of the fiddled figures doesn't believe them, and believes that there are at least 250,000 more unemployed that the Tories claimed," said Labour's employment spokesman, Mr Ian McCartney.
By midday the Tories' celebration over the figures had been overshadowed by the row over sleaze, with Labour accusing Mr Major of a "cover up" by blocking the publication of a potentially damaging report on the cash for questions affair by adjourning Parliament this week.
The Labour Leader, Mr Tony Blair, pointed out that Mr Major had pledged that the report would be published before the general selection. "There was a specific promise made by Mr Major last October and he should simply keep his word," he said.
The Liberal Democrats leader, Mr Paddy Ashdown, suggested Mr Major had deliberately announced the date of the general election early to prevent publication of the report, which would rake up unhappy memories of the ongoing scandal involving Mr Neil Hamilton MP, among others.