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David Cameron says Labour will pick voters' pockets with taxes David Cameron says Labour will pick voters' pockets with taxes
(about 4 hours later)
David Cameron has intensified his attacks on Ed Miliband by warning that Labour would pickpocket voters in the form of tax rises if it won the general election.David Cameron has intensified his attacks on Ed Miliband by warning that Labour would pickpocket voters in the form of tax rises if it won the general election.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, the prime minister said Labour presented a danger to voters. He said: “It is a choice, the election … Fundamentally it is a choice about whether you want a government that will find savings and not pick into your pocket or, with Labour, a government that will pick your pocket I think on a pretty frequent basis.”In an interview with BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, the prime minister said Labour presented a danger to voters. He said: “It is a choice, the election … Fundamentally it is a choice about whether you want a government that will find savings and not pick into your pocket or, with Labour, a government that will pick your pocket I think on a pretty frequent basis.”
Cameron, who has faced criticisms about being overly partisan in his election campaigning, later warned on the Today programme that Labour would bring Britain nothing but “debt and taxes” while insisting there had been “nothing impolite” about his tactics.Cameron, who has faced criticisms about being overly partisan in his election campaigning, later warned on the Today programme that Labour would bring Britain nothing but “debt and taxes” while insisting there had been “nothing impolite” about his tactics.
Cameron told Today: “Elections are a choice. And frankly there is a choice. Do we continue with this plan, or do we go with the people, the Labour party and Ed Miliband, who have opposed every single part of it and who, I think, would give this country problems of debt and taxes and excessive spending and welfare that would take us right back to the past. And because elections are a choice, I make no apology about putting the danger of Labour putting up your taxes squarely into this election campaign.”Cameron told Today: “Elections are a choice. And frankly there is a choice. Do we continue with this plan, or do we go with the people, the Labour party and Ed Miliband, who have opposed every single part of it and who, I think, would give this country problems of debt and taxes and excessive spending and welfare that would take us right back to the past. And because elections are a choice, I make no apology about putting the danger of Labour putting up your taxes squarely into this election campaign.”
The prime minister tried to focus attention on his pledge to create 2m extra jobs in the next parliament as he embarked on a series of radio and television interviews. But after namechecking Ed Miliband three times on the steps of Downing Street on the first full campaign day on Monday, he faced repeated questions over his personalised attacks on the Labour leader.The prime minister tried to focus attention on his pledge to create 2m extra jobs in the next parliament as he embarked on a series of radio and television interviews. But after namechecking Ed Miliband three times on the steps of Downing Street on the first full campaign day on Monday, he faced repeated questions over his personalised attacks on the Labour leader.
Sarah Montague, the Today presenter, reminded the prime minister that he said “let sunshine rule the day” in his first conference speech as Tory leader. Eamonn Holmes, the Sky presenter, said: “There you were outside Downing Street and you had a swipe at Ed Miliband. A lot of people would say it is not cricket.”Sarah Montague, the Today presenter, reminded the prime minister that he said “let sunshine rule the day” in his first conference speech as Tory leader. Eamonn Holmes, the Sky presenter, said: “There you were outside Downing Street and you had a swipe at Ed Miliband. A lot of people would say it is not cricket.”
The prime minister said: “I don’t agree with that. In cricket there are two opposing teams. There is a choice. And it is the same in politics.”The prime minister said: “I don’t agree with that. In cricket there are two opposing teams. There is a choice. And it is the same in politics.”
Cameron was also grilled about the Tory claim that working families faced an average £3,000 tax rise under a Labour government. Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, described the claim as unhelpful.Cameron was also grilled about the Tory claim that working families faced an average £3,000 tax rise under a Labour government. Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, described the claim as unhelpful.
The prime minister defended the claim saying Labour had voted for the Charter for Budget Responsibility in January, which commits Britain to a fiscal tightening of £30bn in the next parliament. Cameron told BBC Breakfast: “We have taken what they [Labour] voted for which is a £30bn fiscal adjustment – and they have said they want half of that to be raised in tax – and so we have made the necessary calculations.” The prime minister defended the claim, saying Labour had voted for the Charter for Budget Responsibility in January, which commits Britain to a fiscal tightening of £30bn in the next parliament. Cameron told BBC Breakfast: “We have taken what they [Labour] voted for, which is a £30bn fiscal adjustment – and they have said they want half of that to be raised in tax – and so we have made the necessary calculations.”
Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, was forced to admit on Monday that the claim was a guess because the party was keeping its options open on the timing of its deficit reduction plans and on the exact breakdown.Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, was forced to admit on Monday that the claim was a guess because the party was keeping its options open on the timing of its deficit reduction plans and on the exact breakdown.
Cameron, who declined to say how the Tories would implement their planned £12bn in welfare cuts, also admitted that his jobs pledge was based on a projection of what had been achieved over the last five years. “It is based on a record, but I am able to say this because for five years we have delivered exactly that – 1,000 jobs a day,” he said. Cameron, who declined to say how the Tories would implement their planned £12bn in welfare cuts, also admitted that his jobs pledge was based on a projection of what had been achieved over the past five years. “It is based on a record, but I am able to say this because for five years we have delivered exactly that – 1,000 jobs a day,” he said.
When the BBC presenter Bill Turnbull said the Office for Budget Responsibility insisted only half as many jobs would be created, Cameron said the independent fiscal watchdog had underestimated employment levels before. He said: “The OBR predicted half that number of jobs in the last parliament and we doubled what they predicted and we are believing we can do that again.”When the BBC presenter Bill Turnbull said the Office for Budget Responsibility insisted only half as many jobs would be created, Cameron said the independent fiscal watchdog had underestimated employment levels before. He said: “The OBR predicted half that number of jobs in the last parliament and we doubled what they predicted and we are believing we can do that again.”
Meanwhile, Cameron indicated that the Tories would not tax disability benefits. He was speaking after a leaked Department for Work and Pensions email suggested disability benefits could be taxed to cut welfare spending.Meanwhile, Cameron indicated that the Tories would not tax disability benefits. He was speaking after a leaked Department for Work and Pensions email suggested disability benefits could be taxed to cut welfare spending.
Asked on BBC Breakfast to rule out taxing disability benefits, Cameron said: “What we have done through this parliament is we have actually improved the money that goes to the most disabled people in our country. We have replaced one benefit, disability living allowance, with a new benefit, personal independence payment. It is working well and it is also going to lead to some savings over time. We haven’t created that benefit in order to undermine it. We want to enhance it and safeguard it.”Asked on BBC Breakfast to rule out taxing disability benefits, Cameron said: “What we have done through this parliament is we have actually improved the money that goes to the most disabled people in our country. We have replaced one benefit, disability living allowance, with a new benefit, personal independence payment. It is working well and it is also going to lead to some savings over time. We haven’t created that benefit in order to undermine it. We want to enhance it and safeguard it.”