Labour targets 'suburban' voters in Tory marginal seats Douglas Alexander, Labour's newly appointed election chief, has been encouraged to target the voters by research showing that they are preoccupied with the cost-of-living crisis. Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, believes his pledge to freeze energy prices is popular with wavering Conservative voters. When he goes canvassing this weekend he plans to man an energy stall to help draw attention to the policy. Amber Valley in Derbyshire, Harrow East in London and Ilford North in Essex will be among the first constituencies to receive "personalised" messages from Labour on the cost of living crisis. However, some Labour MPs are concerned that Labour is still alienating middle-England. Mr Miliband attracted criticism at the Labour Party conference last month by talking about his "socialist" approach to politics. Conservative backbenchers are trying to appeal to "white van Conservatives." Robert Halfon, whose seat in Harlow, Essex, is 81st on Labour's target list, has written a book in which he argues that the Conservatives must embark on a "moral mission" to help the poor and those who want to work and get on. George Osborne, the Chancellor, is said to be "very receptive" to the ideas of Mr Halfon and other backbenchers that the Tories should do more to make work pay. Conservative modernisers argue that the party needs to boost its prospect at the next election by pledging to build a new town. The Treasury is said to privately favour the move, but Mr Cameron is said to be implacably opposed. Other backbenchers are pushing for Mr Osborne to legislate to raise the minimum wage or raise the income tax threshold to £12,500.