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It has emerged that the infamous Ed Stone - the eight foot stone carving of Labour's key 2015 manifesto pledges - cost 拢8,000.

Ed Miliband attracted ridicule after he unveiled the plinth, saying that it would be installed in the garden of Downing Street to remind the party of its duty to honour its six main election promises.

Discussing Labour's election spend, former advisor John McTernan described it as "a bargain" given the "laugh value" it provided. He said it was "the most ridiculous and disastrous political stunt" he had seen.

He was discussing the parties' 2015 election campaigning spending with Times columnist Tim Montgomerie, after new data was released by The Electoral Commission.

In total, 拢39m was spent by the UK's six largest parties on the campaign, an increase on the 拢34.4m spent in 2010 but lower than the record 拢42m spent in 2005. The Conservatives spent 拢15.5m to Labour鈥檚 拢12m.