Phillip Hammond, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has responded to Gordon Brown's new claim to represent aspirational middle classes.

"One minute Gordon Brown's a class warrior, the next he is a friend of middle Britain", Hammond said. "The idea that a man who has spent his whole career at war with the middle classes can be their champion is laughable".

Hammond highlighted how Gordon Brown has taxed Middle Britain:

• He’s repeatedly hiked national insurance, hitting middle Britain again and again. 
• He imposed a £100 billion pensions stealth tax. 
• He hit first time buyers with a £1,500 rise in stamp duty. 
• He imposed 111 tax rises.

"Middle Britain won't forget that it was Gordon Brown who destroyed their pensions, increased their taxes and crippled social mobility", he added, as he cited a number of examples of how Middle Britain has suffered under Labour:

• Fewer people getting on to the housing ladder.
• Fewer first time buyers. 
  
• Declining social mobility. 
  
• Children from wealthy backgrounds are four times more likely to go to university. 
  
• Parents unable to work because childcare costs are too high. 
  
• Lack of school choice. 
  
• High levels of anti-social behaviour. 
  
• High levels of violent crime. 
  
• Sharp decline in pensions. 
  
• Record youth unemployment. 
  
• Harder to start a business.