Labour is said to be pushing major supermarkets to limit the price of everyday essentials in return for easing regulations.

The price of eggs, bread and milk would be voluntarily capped under the proposals in return for easing packaging policies and delaying rule changes around healthy food.

The Government has suggested to the supermarkets that they reinvest any savings from scrapping regulations into freezing food prices, according to reports.

However supermarkets have reacted to the apparent proposals with fury, while the British Retail Consortium said it would 'force retailers to sell goods at a loss'.

Retailers in Scotland recently condemned a similar policy by the Scottish National Party - which would not have been voluntary - as a '1970s-style' gimmick.

Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson insisted today that 'this isn't something we're looking at' when asked if there had been discussions with supermarkets about caps.

But do you think this is something the Government should impose? Vote in the Daily Mail's latest poll here:

In yesterday's poll, Mail readers were asked: 'Should the Tories and Reform come up with a pact to avoid splitting by-election vote?' Out of more than 9,000 votes, 83 per cent of you said 'yes' and 17 per cent said 'no'.