JOHN McDONNELL tore into the Tories yesterday, dismissing their claims that there was a “black hole” in Labour’s spending plans as “absolute lies.”

Responding to Chancellor Philip Hammond’s claim that a vote for Labour would offer “a chaotic and high-risk gamble that would lead to higher taxes, more borrowing and more debt,” the shadow chancellor told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that his party’s manifesto would be fully costed.

The Conservatives issued a dossier claiming a £45 billion shortfall would be apparent midway through the next parliament in 2019-2020 if Labour stuck to its tax and spending commitments and pledges to reverse Tory welfare cuts.