John Prescott: 'Back door' warning

A vote for the Liberal Democrats will let the Conservatives in by "the back door", John Prescott has said.

On the campaign trail in Wales, the deputy prime minister warned potential Labour voters not to be "lulled into a false sense of security" by opinion polls.

The latest surveys, published on Tuesday, showed Labour extending its lead over the Tories.

But Prescott warned disillusioned supporters that they could not afford to vote for other parties.

He said a vote for the Lib Dems could let the Conservatives win by default.

And the deputy prime minister criticised Charles Kennedy's lacklustre performance at the launch of the Liberal Democrat manifesto, which was blamed on sleepless nights caused by the birth of his child.

"He was exhausted after one day looking after the boy. How does he think mums feel who do it day after day?" asked Prescott.

Turning his fire on the Conservative leader, Prescott said Michael Howard had been part of a government that created more unemployment and cuts in services.

"There is a lot of hypocrisy about Mr Howard. He is the biggest opportunist," said the Labour deputy leader.

He also warned that the election was about "a clash of principles and of values".

"It is not about Tony Blair or Michael Howard. It is a difference of approach and the kind of society we are going to have over the next four years.

"We believe in economic and social justice. We have shown that you can have economic progress and social justice.

"They are not alternatives they are two sides of the same coin."