TESCO won a £200 million-plus battle for northern supermarkets group Hillards, thanks to the 'Man from the Pru.'

Prudential gave in to the temptation of a Tesco offer, which put Hillards share price at twice value they were at the start of the year.

Labour leader Neil Kinnock hit out at 'smears' which he claimed had dirtied the start of the General Election campaign and called for a campaign 'free of spite'.

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