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Tories 'to match Labour spending' | Tories 'to match Labour spending' |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A Conservative government would match Labour's projected public spending totals for the next three years, shadow chancellor George Osborne has said. | A Conservative government would match Labour's projected public spending totals for the next three years, shadow chancellor George Osborne has said. |
He pledged two years of 2% increases. The final year total would be reviewed. | |
He told the BBC that he wanted to see a shift in taxation from income being taxed to pollution being taxed. | |
Mr Osborne also denied Tory deputy treasurer Johan Eliasch's resignation was because of any unhappiness with David Cameron's leadership. | |
'No up-front tax cuts' | 'No up-front tax cuts' |
Mr Osborne said government spending under the Tories would rise from £615bn next year to £674bn in 2010/11. He said, like Labour, the final year total would be reviewed in 2009. | Mr Osborne said government spending under the Tories would rise from £615bn next year to £674bn in 2010/11. He said, like Labour, the final year total would be reviewed in 2009. |
He said the move would create "headroom" for lower taxes because the economy is expected to grow faster than public spending. | He said the move would create "headroom" for lower taxes because the economy is expected to grow faster than public spending. |
Mr Osborne said: "The result of adopting these spending totals is that under a Conservative government there will be real increases in spending on public services, year after year. | Mr Osborne said: "The result of adopting these spending totals is that under a Conservative government there will be real increases in spending on public services, year after year. |
"The charge from our opponents that we will cut services becomes transparently false." | "The charge from our opponents that we will cut services becomes transparently false." |
He added: "At the same time the share of national income taken by the state will start to fall, as the economy grows faster than the government does. | He added: "At the same time the share of national income taken by the state will start to fall, as the economy grows faster than the government does. |
Any reduction we offer in one tax will have to be matched by a tax rise elsewhere George Osborne, shadow chancellor | Any reduction we offer in one tax will have to be matched by a tax rise elsewhere George Osborne, shadow chancellor |
"Pursuing this approach over an economic cycle creates the headroom for sustainably lower taxes." | "Pursuing this approach over an economic cycle creates the headroom for sustainably lower taxes." |
He added no unfunded tax cuts would be promised at the next election. | He added no unfunded tax cuts would be promised at the next election. |
He said: "There will also be no election promises of up-front, unfunded tax cuts. | He said: "There will also be no election promises of up-front, unfunded tax cuts. |
"Any reduction we offer in one tax will have to be matched by a tax rise elsewhere." | "Any reduction we offer in one tax will have to be matched by a tax rise elsewhere." |
Chancellor Alistair Darling dismissed Mr Osborne's announcement, saying the Tories would not be able to make good their promises. | Chancellor Alistair Darling dismissed Mr Osborne's announcement, saying the Tories would not be able to make good their promises. |
'Panicked response' | 'Panicked response' |
"In recent weeks the Conservatives have been proposing tax cuts amounting to £21bn," he said in a statement. | "In recent weeks the Conservatives have been proposing tax cuts amounting to £21bn," he said in a statement. |
"Now they claim they can match Labour on public spending. They can't and their sums don't add up. | "Now they claim they can match Labour on public spending. They can't and their sums don't add up. |
"This is the latest panicked response from the Conservative Party who have simply not thought their arguments through," he added. | "This is the latest panicked response from the Conservative Party who have simply not thought their arguments through," he added. |
Mr Osborne's announcement came as it emerged Johan Eliasch had resigned as a deputy treasurer of the Conservatives. | Mr Osborne's announcement came as it emerged Johan Eliasch had resigned as a deputy treasurer of the Conservatives. |
Gordon Brown said he wanted to reach out to new supporters | Gordon Brown said he wanted to reach out to new supporters |
A Tory spokesman said the sportswear tycoon - who loaned the party £2.6m - will continue to offer financial and political support. | A Tory spokesman said the sportswear tycoon - who loaned the party £2.6m - will continue to offer financial and political support. |
But a report in The Times said the businessman had quit his post because of Tory leader David Cameron's "lurch to the right" in policy making. | But a report in The Times said the businessman had quit his post because of Tory leader David Cameron's "lurch to the right" in policy making. |
A Conservative spokesman said: "He has resigned because he didn't feel he had time to do the job properly." | A Conservative spokesman said: "He has resigned because he didn't feel he had time to do the job properly." |
Election speculation | |
Mr Osborne told BBC Radio 4's Today that Mr Eliasch wanted to spend more time concentrating on combating climate change. | |
Meanwhile the prime minister has told the Daily Telegraph he wants to attract support from non-Labour voters. | |
Gordon Brown's interview has increased speculation he could call a general election in the autumn. | |
In Mr Brown's wide-ranging Telegraph interview he said he wanted to attract people not thought of traditionally as Labour supporters. | In Mr Brown's wide-ranging Telegraph interview he said he wanted to attract people not thought of traditionally as Labour supporters. |
He said: "I see British politics as us always seeking to unite and to be part of an enlarged centre ground. | He said: "I see British politics as us always seeking to unite and to be part of an enlarged centre ground. |
"And us reaching out to those who might not be thought of as our supporters or identified with us. | "And us reaching out to those who might not be thought of as our supporters or identified with us. |
"By showing them that we can meet these challenges we can have a better country and have a more positive view of the future of Britain." | "By showing them that we can meet these challenges we can have a better country and have a more positive view of the future of Britain." |