Hain claims Kennedy has adopted Tory agenda

Labour described the Liberal Democrats as "right-wing" last night as it tried to avoid damaging defeats in two parliamentary by-elections tomorrow in Leicester South and Birmingham Hodge Hill.

Labour described the Liberal Democrats as "right-wing" last night as it tried to avoid damaging defeats in two parliamentary by-elections tomorrow in Leicester South and Birmingham Hodge Hill.

Peter Hain, the Leader of the Commons, told disaffected Labour supporters that Charles Kennedy's party was no longer "progressive" because it had "shifted to the right" and embraced a "Tory agenda".

Until now, Labour has been reluctant to launch an assault on the Liberal Democrats. But there are growing fears in Labour that a strong showing by the Liberal Democrats at the next general election could enable the Tories to win power by gaining marginal seats.

Speaking in Leicester, Mr Hain said: "Too many Labour voters see voting Liberal Democrat as a way of kicking the Government. But the truth is that the Liberal Democrats have given up on progressive politics altogether. A vote for the Liberal Democrats is now a vote for a Tory agenda and a vote that could see Michael Howard slipping into power by the back door."