GARRY Hague, Conservative parliamentary spokesman for Thurrock, has launched a blistering attack on what he claims is 'Labour party smear tactics' in the run up to the next General Election and condemned Labour as 'cruel' and 'irresponsible.'

Thurrock Conservatives are claiming there has been a sustained campaign of smears and innuendoes by Labour party members and supporters claiming the Conservatives are threatening to cut free bus passes for pensioners.

Coun Hague has expressed his revulsion at Labour electioneering tactics and said: "I am receiving more and more reports from anguished pensioners enquiring if their bus passes are under threat.

"Like some demented mantra Labour incessantly chant the unfounded claim that the Conservatives are going to scrap free bus passes for pensioners. Labour is beginning to sound like an irrational scratched record.

"The free bus pass scheme was something local Conservatives have fought, campaigned and lobbied Thurrock Council for since 1997.

"Local Conservatives were jubilant and delighted when the previous Labour Council finally gave into Conservative calls for this concession to be introduced to help Thurrock's OAPs.

"I would like to reassure Thurrock residents that the Conservatives have no plans to scrap this concession. And why would we when it was our idea?"