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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Pound being put at risk - Cameron | Pound being put at risk - Cameron |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government is putting the British economy and currency at risk with its £20bn "borrowing binge", Conservative leader David Cameron has told the BBC. | The government is putting the British economy and currency at risk with its £20bn "borrowing binge", Conservative leader David Cameron has told the BBC. |
| Mr Cameron said it was a "massive mistake" to plan a short term giveaway only to "whack up taxes later". | Mr Cameron said it was a "massive mistake" to plan a short term giveaway only to "whack up taxes later". |
| He said Gordon Brown's plans could make the recession worse and said he would abandon Labour's 2010 spending plans. | He said Gordon Brown's plans could make the recession worse and said he would abandon Labour's 2010 spending plans. |
| The prime minister says the Conservatives are isolated as most countries support a fiscal stimulus. | The prime minister says the Conservatives are isolated as most countries support a fiscal stimulus. |
| He has also accused Mr Cameron of leading a "do nothing" party which would not help people through the economic downturn. | He has also accused Mr Cameron of leading a "do nothing" party which would not help people through the economic downturn. |
| 'Whack up taxes' | 'Whack up taxes' |
| Mr Cameron's comments came as a raft of data was released showing the economic downturn continuing. | |
| The British Retail Consortium reported UK retail sales down 0.4% in November on a year earlier. The Office for National Statistics said manufacturing output fell in October by 4.9% on a year earlier and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said sales per estate agent fell to 10.6 in November - the lowest level since the survey began in 1978. | |
| The government announced a series of measures to try to boost confidence last month, including a cut in VAT from 17.5% to 15% to try to get people spending. | The government announced a series of measures to try to boost confidence last month, including a cut in VAT from 17.5% to 15% to try to get people spending. |
| But the chancellor said VAT would go back up after a year, National Insurance contributions would have to rise by 0.5% from 2011 together with a new higher rate of tax for earnings over £150,000. | |
| Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Even though we're borrowing absolutely at the limit, to go out and borrow another £20bn and to have a short-term giveaway, and then to have to whack up taxes later - I think that is a massive mistake. " | Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Even though we're borrowing absolutely at the limit, to go out and borrow another £20bn and to have a short-term giveaway, and then to have to whack up taxes later - I think that is a massive mistake. " |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| He added: "I think that puts the public finances at risk, it puts the currency at risk, it puts the whole economy at risk and I think it will actually delay the recovery." | He added: "I think that puts the public finances at risk, it puts the currency at risk, it puts the whole economy at risk and I think it will actually delay the recovery." |
| Mr Cameron is giving a speech to the London School of Economics in which he is stepping up his criticism of the government's "fiscal stimulus" plan to boost the economy. | Mr Cameron is giving a speech to the London School of Economics in which he is stepping up his criticism of the government's "fiscal stimulus" plan to boost the economy. |
| He told the BBC the government's plans would "load up taxes and load up debt for future generations". | He told the BBC the government's plans would "load up taxes and load up debt for future generations". |
| The government says the need for a fiscal stimulus is widely accepted and the Conservatives are isolated in opposing their plans. | The government says the need for a fiscal stimulus is widely accepted and the Conservatives are isolated in opposing their plans. |
| On Monday, at a press conference Mr Brown said many European countries were planning a "temporary and affordable fiscal stimulus". | On Monday, at a press conference Mr Brown said many European countries were planning a "temporary and affordable fiscal stimulus". |
| He said the boost would help families and businesses and was "the right thing to do". | He said the boost would help families and businesses and was "the right thing to do". |
| Poll lead | Poll lead |
| "Facing the downturn it is right, as almost everybody now accepts across the world and every country is now looking at this, that we help people through these difficult times," he said. | "Facing the downturn it is right, as almost everybody now accepts across the world and every country is now looking at this, that we help people through these difficult times," he said. |
| A Populus survey for the Times on Tuesday suggested 40% of people trusted Mr Brown and chancellor Alistair Darling to fight the recession, compared with 31% for Mr Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne. | A Populus survey for the Times on Tuesday suggested 40% of people trusted Mr Brown and chancellor Alistair Darling to fight the recession, compared with 31% for Mr Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne. |
| The telephone survey of 1,505 adults, taken between Friday and Sunday, suggests a six point increase on that issue since the pre-Budget report on 24 November. | The telephone survey of 1,505 adults, taken between Friday and Sunday, suggests a six point increase on that issue since the pre-Budget report on 24 November. |
| It also suggests the Conservatives still have an overall lead among voters with 39% support, compared with Labour on 35% and the Lib Dems on 17%. | It also suggests the Conservatives still have an overall lead among voters with 39% support, compared with Labour on 35% and the Lib Dems on 17%. |
| Mr Cameron told the BBC: "The polls may show whatever the polls show. But I would say: I know opposition leaders always call for an election, I actually think we really need one." | Mr Cameron told the BBC: "The polls may show whatever the polls show. But I would say: I know opposition leaders always call for an election, I actually think we really need one." |
| He said the only way to stop the government's borrowing plans was to have an election to allow voters to decide on the "big choice" before them. | He said the only way to stop the government's borrowing plans was to have an election to allow voters to decide on the "big choice" before them. |
| "You can go on with Labour, with this huge extra borrowing and taxes later, or you can take a different path and say: no that is wrong and it's economically wrong." | "You can go on with Labour, with this huge extra borrowing and taxes later, or you can take a different path and say: no that is wrong and it's economically wrong." |