Cameron attacks Brown's 'reckless' borrowing spree
DAVID CAMERON today emphasised a "big and profound choice" over the economy by strongly attacking Gordon Brown's planned surge in borrowing.
The Tory leader took a massive gamble by setting himself firmly against the "spend now, tax later" policy that Labour insists is vital to help Britons through the recession.
In a major speech in London, Mr Cameron said the Government should be doing the opposite - exerting firm control on spending totals in order to reduce the burden of debt and tax rises once the recession is over.
"A very clear choice is emerging in British politics," he said, accusing Mr Brown of "extreme, reckless action".
Mr Cameron was resisting pressure to spell out exactly what he would do, defying Labour demands that he match his rhetoric with firm figures.
The Tory leader has already announced he will spend less than Labour from 2010 onwards but not disclosed how much by. He widened the gap between the parties further by arguing that Mr Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling could delay recovery rather than speed it up by the scale of their borrowing. State debt will soar £118billion next year and into the trillion-pound mark over five years.
"This strategy is seriously flawed," he said, adding that it placed "an unfair burden on our children." He said: "If people know they will be hit with massive tax rises in a couple of years, they're not going to spend more now." The Tory leader's strategy means that at the next election voters will be asked to give a verdict on whether they think Mr Brown's billions rescued them from a longer, harsher slump.
The Populus survey for The Times today showed the Prime Minister and Mr Darling commanding a nine-point lead over Mr Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne (40 per cent to 31) It is a trebling of their lead on the crucial issue. Overall the Conservatives have a vastly reduced lead of just four points.
The Tories are due to begin meeting senior civil servants in a month to begin practical planning for the possibility they win the next election. Government adviser Kris Murrin has been drafted in to give a "frank assessment" of the officials, the FT said. Some 17 meetings are planned between January and April.