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Brown set to face fresh attacks Brown set to face fresh attacks
(40 minutes later)
Conservative leader David Cameron is set to renew his attacks on Gordon Brown when they go head-to-head in the their first Commons clash since July. Conservative leader David Cameron is set to renew his attacks on Gordon Brown as they go head-to-head in the their first Commons clash since July.
At that time Mr Brown revelled in the Tory leader's problems, claiming the "wheels were coming off" his bicycle.At that time Mr Brown revelled in the Tory leader's problems, claiming the "wheels were coming off" his bicycle.
But this clash comes with the PM facing claims he "dithered" over a snap election - and of "cynically" stealing Tory policy ideas in the pre-Budget.But this clash comes with the PM facing claims he "dithered" over a snap election - and of "cynically" stealing Tory policy ideas in the pre-Budget.
Mr Brown's half hour grilling from Mr Cameron and other MPs begins at noon. Mr Brown's half hour grilling from Mr Cameron and other MPs began at noon.
We're being chased around by a rather tired and desperate and cynical government who after 10 years in office has nothing to say for itself George OsborneShadow chancellor Preview: Brown vs CameronWe're being chased around by a rather tired and desperate and cynical government who after 10 years in office has nothing to say for itself George OsborneShadow chancellor Preview: Brown vs Cameron
Since his weekend decision not to hold a general election Mr Brown has sought to regain the political initiative with statements on Iraq and on his government's tax and longer-term spending plans.Since his weekend decision not to hold a general election Mr Brown has sought to regain the political initiative with statements on Iraq and on his government's tax and longer-term spending plans.
But those tax plans - on inheritance tax, "non-doms" and green taxes on flights - have prompted accusations from both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats that their policies have been stolen.But those tax plans - on inheritance tax, "non-doms" and green taxes on flights - have prompted accusations from both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats that their policies have been stolen.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne told the BBC on Wednesday the Tories were full of energy and ideas and had shown that they were clearly "in the driving seat".Shadow chancellor George Osborne told the BBC on Wednesday the Tories were full of energy and ideas and had shown that they were clearly "in the driving seat".
"We're being chased around by a rather tired and desperate and cynical government who after 10 years in office has nothing to say for itself," he said."We're being chased around by a rather tired and desperate and cynical government who after 10 years in office has nothing to say for itself," he said.
Other pre-budget fall-out includes:
    		Other pre-budget fall-out includes:
    • The Kings Fund says Mr Darling signalled that the government wants to end means testing for elderly people in care homes and for care of the disabled.
    • The Kings Fund says Mr Darling signalled that the government wants to end means testing for elderly people in care homes and for care of the disabled.
    • Insurers say the government has let down millions of homeowners and businesses by failing to give enough cash to flood defences.
    • Insurers say the government has let down millions of homeowners and businesses by failing to give enough cash to flood defences.
    • The Local Government Association has warned of above-inflation council tax rises following "the worst settlement for local government in a decade".
    • The Local Government Association has warned of above-inflation council tax rises following "the worst settlement for local government in a decade".
      • In his statement, Mr Darling targeted private equity bosses and "non-domiciles", and pledged to switch green air taxes to flights, not passengers.In his statement, Mr Darling targeted private equity bosses and "non-domiciles", and pledged to switch green air taxes to flights, not passengers.
      But he was accused by the Tories - who unveiled policies in all these areas last week - of being in a "panic" after their recent opinion poll surge.But he was accused by the Tories - who unveiled policies in all these areas last week - of being in a "panic" after their recent opinion poll surge.
      Mr Darling also downgraded the UK's growth forecast for 2008 by 0.5%.Mr Darling also downgraded the UK's growth forecast for 2008 by 0.5%.
      KEY POINTS Growth forecast cut by 0.5%Tax receipts down by £1.8bn, public sector net borrowing up by £4.3bnInheritance tax threshold raised to £600,000 for married people or those in civil partnershipsCrackdown pledged on "non-domicile" tax payers10% tax rate on private equity capital gains abolished so private equity bosses pay moreGreen taxes on flights not passengers from 2009KEY POINTS Growth forecast cut by 0.5%Tax receipts down by £1.8bn, public sector net borrowing up by £4.3bnInheritance tax threshold raised to £600,000 for married people or those in civil partnershipsCrackdown pledged on "non-domicile" tax payers10% tax rate on private equity capital gains abolished so private equity bosses pay moreGreen taxes on flights not passengers from 2009
      And he doubled to £600,000 the amount a married couple can leave to their children without paying inheritance tax - by making the current £300,000 allowance transferable. The measure will be backdated "indefinitely" - and it will increase to £700,000 by 2010.And he doubled to £600,000 the amount a married couple can leave to their children without paying inheritance tax - by making the current £300,000 allowance transferable. The measure will be backdated "indefinitely" - and it will increase to £700,000 by 2010.
      Last week the Conservatives unveiled plans to exempt estates under £1m from inheritance tax, and to pay for it with an annual £25,000 charge on "non domiciled" wealthy foreigners.Last week the Conservatives unveiled plans to exempt estates under £1m from inheritance tax, and to pay for it with an annual £25,000 charge on "non domiciled" wealthy foreigners.
      But Mr Darling rejected claims he had stolen Conservative policy plans and said he had been working on the changes he made in the Commons on Tuesday since he became chancellor.But Mr Darling rejected claims he had stolen Conservative policy plans and said he had been working on the changes he made in the Commons on Tuesday since he became chancellor.
      'Promising the earth'?'Promising the earth'?
      No-one had a monopoly on one particular idea or another, he said.No-one had a monopoly on one particular idea or another, he said.
      "We must be very careful about getting into a situation, as the Tories have done, of practically promising the earth. I'm not going to do that," he told the BBC."We must be very careful about getting into a situation, as the Tories have done, of practically promising the earth. I'm not going to do that," he told the BBC.
      HAVE YOUR SAY Quite clearly the government are rattled. They have run out of ideas, and copying the Conservatives Chubby, Edinburgh Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Quite clearly the government are rattled. They have run out of ideas, and copying the Conservatives Chubby, Edinburgh Send us your comments
      Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman, Vincent Cable, told BBC News 24 that Labour had actually stolen their ideas, rather than Conservative ideas.Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman, Vincent Cable, told BBC News 24 that Labour had actually stolen their ideas, rather than Conservative ideas.
      He said: "Most of these policies were set out by the Liberal Democrats. We had set out this policy on changing the basis of aviation tax, the Tories pinched it from us and now the government have pinched it from them.He said: "Most of these policies were set out by the Liberal Democrats. We had set out this policy on changing the basis of aviation tax, the Tories pinched it from us and now the government have pinched it from them.
      "I mean for the Tories to be bellyaching about it, it's like a gang of thieves complaining about their houses being burgled."I mean for the Tories to be bellyaching about it, it's like a gang of thieves complaining about their houses being burgled.
      "Similarly all this stuff on non-domiciled investors, we did the hard work on that... so let's get the record straight first.""Similarly all this stuff on non-domiciled investors, we did the hard work on that... so let's get the record straight first."