The Tories today accused Jeremy Corbyn of waging a 'scare campaign' to cow voters into backing him.

They hit back after the Labour leader accused Theresa May of trying to 'pitch the young against the old' in her manifesto.

Speaking at a rally in Birmingham, he said the PM was sewing division by limiting pensioner benefits such as the triple lock and universal winter fuel allowance.

The Labour leader accused the Conservatives of trying to 'pitch young against old'

But the Conservatives said only Mrs May can be trusted to stand up to Brussels and get Britain the Brexit deal needed to protect the public purse.

And they urged Britons not to gamble over the crucial negotiations by backing Mr Corbyn in a protest vote.

A party spokesman said: 'The biggest threat to every generation in this country is getting Brexit wrong.

'Get Brexit wrong and we get everything wrong – from looking after our elderly to paying for our children's education.

'Our nation's economic security and our standing in the world depends on getting the Brexit negotiations right.

'If anyone is thinking about lodging a protest vote because of Jeremy Corbyn's scare campaign, here's the thing that's genuinely terrifying.

'If Theresa May loses just six seats then we will have a hung Parliament with Jeremy Corbyn as our Prime Minister, in charge of Brexit and propped up by the Lib Dems and SNP.'

He urged voters not to gamble over Brexit by voting Mr Corbyn into Downing Street.

The Labour leader described the Conservative manifesto as a 'typical nasty party attempt to set generations against each other'

Mrs May has announced she will introduce means-testing for the winter fuel allowance and reduce the pensions triple local to a double lock - guaranteeing that pensions will increase, but limiting the bill.

The policies were unveiled in the PM's tough love manifesto in which she vowed not to duck the tough choices that lie ahead.

She contrasted her plan with Mr Corbyn's proposals to sting Britain with a £50billion tax bombshell to bankroll his spending splurge.

Mr Corbyn - who backs giving the winter fuel allowance to millionaires - said the manifesto is typical of a 'nasty party'.

A Labour supporter looks in high spirits as he prepared to listen to Corbyn's speech today

He said: 'Where the Tories look to divide, Labour seeks to bring people together.

'The Tories are now trying to pitch the young against the old. Their manifesto is a typical nasty party attempt to set generations against each other.

'For pensioners they offer a triple whammy of misery, ending the triple lock which protects pensioner incomes, means-testing the winter fuel allowance and slapping a 'dementia tax' on those who need social care by making them pay for it with their homes.

'Some claim that cutting support for the elderly is necessary to give more help to the young. But young people are being offered no hope by the Tories either - loaded up with tuition fee debts and next to no chance of a home of their own.

'Labour stands for unity across all ages and regions. It is simply wrong to claim that young people can only be given a fair deal at the expense of the old, or vice versa. We all depend on each other.

'That's why we are calling on the Tories to drop their anti-pensioner package immediately - older people should not be used as a political football.'

Jeremy Corbyn has arrived in Birmingham as the party hosts a major rally in the city

There was a raucous atmosphere in Birmingham's International Convention Centre, where Mr Corbyn was welcomed by loud chants of 'Jezza, Jezza'.

One supporter shouted 'get them out' and 'evil scum' when the Tories were mentioned. But most of the 2,000 or so present focused their efforts on showing their support for the speakers.

There were loud cheers when shadow chancellor John McDonnell pointed out that Labour's manifesto is fully costed, unlike the Conservative document which was published without costings.

McDonnell issued a desperate plea to voters to back the party - by quoting Latin.

He has described himself as a Marxist and railed against private schools.

But he used Latin - an elite language which the vast majority of Britons don't understand - to issue his rallying call.

Speaking at a Labour campaign rally in Birmingham, he urged voters to 'carpe diem' - Latin for 'seize the day'.

He said: 'It's all to play for, let's get out there and win this election.

'Carpe diem, lets seize this opportunity, let's win this election.'

Corbyn's visit to Birmingham comes after it was claimed MI5 opened a file on him over his links to the IRA.

The Labour leader was allegedly investigated 25 years ago because he was seen as a potential threat to national security.

At the time he had links with convicted terrorists and was campaigning for a united Ireland.