MICHAEL Howard has been accused of trying to mislead Swindon voters after claiming a link between asylum seekers and rising council tax bills.

The Conservative leader has written to voters in North Swindon, claiming a massive bill for accommodating refugees in Swindon and Wiltshire could have been spent on local services.

Mr Howard wrote: "You may be shocked to learn that Tony Blair's chaotic asylum system has cost Swindon Council and Wiltshire County Council £5,530,619 since 1997 money that could have been spent on essential local services.

"No wonder a typical hardworking family in a band D property in Swindon and Wiltshire now pays £573.21 more on their council tax than they did in 1997."

The claims also appeared in newspaper adverts, including yesterday's Adver. The Home Office meets more than 80 per cent of the bill for accommodating asylum seekers nationally.

Council tax paid the bill until 2000, under a system introduced by Mr Howard as Home Secretary, but scrapped by Labour.

Lib Dem and Labour candidates have condemned the letter and called for Tory candidates to disassociate themselves from it.

"It is despicable," said North Swindon Lib Dem candidate Mike Evemy.

"Suggesting that the cost of asylum is in any way linked to the council tax rises is misleading.

"Michael Howard should apologise for even suggesting that.

"I hope Justin Tomlinson and Robert Buckland will disassociate themselves from this."

Michael Wills, Labour candidate for North Swindon, added: "The whole thing is opportunism. I hope that the voters won't be taken in by this nonsense.

"I hope that the Swindon Tory candidates will be honest with the electorate and not make the same misleading claims."

In a joint statement Coun Tomlinson and Mr Buckland said: "Mr Blair has lost control of the asylum system and as a result spending on asylum has rocketed.

"He has wasted taxpayers' money that could have been spent on a bigger Revenue Support Grant for local councils. This

would have allowed lower council tax bills, rather than the 70 per cent hike under Labour or more money for frontline services.

"It is no surprise Labour want to stifle this crucial debate. As far as an apology goes, we will not take lectures from Labour politicians responsible for eight years of broken promises."

Labour today promised 600 extra border guards as Tony Blair put immigration and asylum back at the heart of its campaign.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke made the announcement ahead of a speech by Mr Blair in which he turned up the heat on the Tories over the issue.

Isabel Field