ed miliband was accused of hypocrisy last night after labour town halls and mps were revealed to be hiring thousands of workers on zero-hours contracts .
the labour leader vowed to end casual employment contracts that ` undermine living standards and family life ' .
but his crackdown , which was intended to regain the political initiative after boosts for the tories on jobs and incomes , backfired spectacularly .
speaking in huddersfield , mr miliband said a labour government would legislate to require employers to offer a contract to anyone who had been working regular hours for 12 weeks .