WORCESTER MP Michael Foster has been caught at the centre of a furious row between Labour and the Tories about electioneering tactics.

The Tories have condemned the use of templated Press releases - which are distributed by Labour's election supremo Alan Milburn - to be filled in by MPs trying to hold on to their seats in the coming general election.

One of the Press releases has been used by Mr Foster, asking residents of Worcester what makes them proud of the city.

Template

It emerged yesterday that a template of the release has been given to all Labour MPs which they are encouraged to adapt to their own constituency.

Tory co-chairman Liam Fox said: "Labour MPs are taking a lead role from Tony Blair by issuing Press releases with all the sincerity of a Bafta acceptance speech."

But Mr Foster immediately hit back at the Tories, accusing them of "sheer hypocrisy", pointing out that the Tories distributed press releases, as well as personal mailshots, which have been generated in the same way.

Mr Foster's wife, Shauna, has recently received a personalised letter from Tory leader Michael Howard asking her, ironically, to rate her constituency MP.

"For Liam Fox to say that, he's obviously got no idea what his leader's been up to," Mr Foster said.

"Michael Howard's been doing exactly the same - filling in Worcester in part of a larger form and sending it to people like my wife.

"It's sheer hypocrisy from Liam Fox. That doesn't surprise me."

Labour's templated Press release, leaked to London's Evening Standard newspaper yesterday, contains blank spaces where MPs can fill in their own names and constituency details.

It asked constituents to say what they liked about their area, as part of a wider "Proud of Britain" initiative.

"I have absolutely no problem pointing out how things have improved since 1997," said Mr Foster.

"The Conservative strategy is to talk down any achievements since 1997 and make Worcester less confident about its performance to create a climate for a change of Government."