Labour chiefs tighten grip on front-bench

LABOUR leader Ed Miliband and shadow chancellor Ed Balls have ordered the party's front-benchers to clear all policy statements with them before making any announcements.

The order covers speeches, newspaper articles, press releases, contributions to parliamentary debates and endorsements for campaigns, and applies to every shadow minister.

Statements with financial implications must be cleared with the shadow Treasury team as well as the leader's office, while those which do not involve spending go to Mr Miliband alone.

The move is an attempt to fend off Conservative claims that Labour are "deficit deniers" who would allow public spending to creep back up.