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Cameron attacks PM over economy | Cameron attacks PM over economy |
(about 2 hours later) | |
David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of presiding over a "complete and utter failure" of economic policy in a speech in the City of London. | |
The Conservative leader stressed he did still support the government's package to stabilise banks. | |
But he argued that short-term action was not enough and a long-term plan was needed to rebuild the economy. | |
He argued that Mr Brown had "spent and borrowed without restraint" and ignored warnings about the consequences. | |
Mr Cameron's speech on Friday appeared to signal the end of a truce between Labour and the Tories over the financial crisis. | |
'False assumptions' | 'False assumptions' |
Mr Brown's handling of the crisis has brought an upturn in his poll ratings, but Mr Cameron said the prime minister could not hide from mistakes he made as chancellor. | |
"Some people think that this decision - to support recapitalisation - means that we somehow now subscribe to the government's entire economic policy and doctrine," he said. | |
"Let me make it crystal clear - we do not. | "Let me make it crystal clear - we do not. |
"And the complete and utter failure of their economic record has never been more clear to see." We have seen a total breakdown of economic responsibility David Cameron | "And the complete and utter failure of their economic record has never been more clear to see." We have seen a total breakdown of economic responsibility David Cameron |
The Tory leader accused the prime minister of basing his economic policy on "false assumptions". | |
Among them were the ideas that a successful economy could be built on a "narrow base of housing, public spending and financial services" and "that you could abolish boom and bust and that the good times would last forever". | Among them were the ideas that a successful economy could be built on a "narrow base of housing, public spending and financial services" and "that you could abolish boom and bust and that the good times would last forever". |
"Over the past decade, we have seen a total breakdown of economic responsibility," he added. | |
Mr Cameron called for a range of new measures which he said would rebalance the economy. | |
He wants to see much tougher regulation of the banking sector and changes to the insolvency laws to protect sound but struggling businesses. | He wants to see much tougher regulation of the banking sector and changes to the insolvency laws to protect sound but struggling businesses. |
He also said Britain must broaden its economic base "to include more science, more hi-tech services, more green technologies, more engineering and more high-value manufacturing". |