Ed Miliband has launched a stinging rebuke of David Cameron in a strongly worded article for the Independent on Sunday, attacking the prime minister over his willingness to use the Paul Flowers scandal to attack the Labour Party over its links to the co-operative movement.
Describing Cameron’s actions during PMQs this week as a “new low”, the Labour leader accuses the Tory leader of trying to discredit his opponent through mud-slinging by using the near collapse of the Co-op bank to score cheap political points.
Miliband writes: "[Cameron] hit a new low by trying to use the gross errors and misconduct of one man, Paul Flowers, to impugn the integrity of the entire Labour movement," adding: "We all want proper answers as to what went on at the Co-operative Bank, and the public deserves better than the desperate attempts by the Tory party to score the cheapest political points, including ludicrous claims that Labour's historic links with the Co-op movement were the invention of Rev Flowers."
Miliband continued: "Of course, the credibility of their smears was undermined when it emerged that the Chancellor himself was promoting the Co-op's bid to take over Lloyds Bank branches."
Miliband has attacked Cameron over his Co-op 'smears'
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The Tories have sought to highlight the close links between Labour and the Co-op, including "soft loans" at preferential rates and a £50,000 donation to Ed Balls' office from the Co-operative Group. But Labour have used the row over the near collapse of the lender to put pressure on George Osborne over the Co-op's aborted bid for Lloyds branches.
Flowers was released on bail by police after questioning over drugs allegations and Chancellor George Osborne has ordered an independent investigation into the Co-operative Bank's activities since 2008. The 63-year-old Methodist minister was questioned at a Leeds police station by officers "investigating allegations of drug supply offences".
Flowers stepped down as Co-op Bank chairman in June and questions have since been asked about his competence in the role amid claims of illegal drug use, inappropriate expenses, drink-driving and pornographic material found on a council computer. He was suspended by both the Methodist church and the Labour Party following the allegations that he bought and used illegal drugs.
Miliband claimed the heated exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions over Labour and the Co-op, along with attacks over the trade unions and seeking to blame Andy Burnham for NHS failings, were part of a plan to fight the "dirtiest general election campaign" for 20 years, masterminded by Tory strategist Lynton Crosby.
"David Cameron cannot resist a low blow when the British public craves a politics on the high ground. His main political strategy is now to sling as much mud as possible in the hope that some of it sticks. When he does so, he demeans his office."
Tory chairman Grant Shapps hit back at the Labour leader, highlighting the activities of Gordon Brown's former spin doctor Damian McBride.
"This is a pathetic attempt to evade the serious issues. Labour have big questions to answer, and when they are asked, they simply try to avoid them by claiming they are smears," he said. "It is an obvious tactic from the party that brought you the most disgraceful smear operation of modern times, fronted by Damian McBride, and known about, encouraged and tolerated by Ed Balls and Ed Miliband.
"And McBride was simply the latest in a long line of bullying Labour spin doctors, including Alastair Campbell and Charlie Whelan. Incredibly, Labour's new campaign chief Michael Dugher used to be McBride's right-hand man - it's the same old Labour.
"We suggest they explain how the corruption at Falkirk happened, and how the Rev Flowers was allowed to become and remain an adviser, rather than dismiss legitimate questions as smears."
Cameron used the latest Prime Minister's Questions session to announce an inquiry into the Co-op, prompting Labour to demand assurances from Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, the country's top civil servant, that the investigation would not be a "Trojan horse" for a political attack.
The Treasury Select Committee's Tory chairman, Andrew Tyrie, questioned the manner in which the inquiry was announced, telling BBC Radio 4's Week in Westminster: "I think announcing a review in the politically charged atmosphere of Prime Minister's Questions is not the best place to secure all-party support."
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police have made an arrest in an alleged plot to kidnap a male escort who made newspaper claims about Flowers. Following his revelations to the Sun newspaper earlier this week, the 31-year-old man reported to police that he received threatening text messages to his mobile phone.
A 29-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap. He has since been bailed pending further inquiries.