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Tories seek PM recession apology | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Conservatives have called on Gordon Brown to apologise for "misleading" MPs on the recession after heated exchanges at prime minister's questions. | |
Asked whether the UK was the only one of the G20 group of leading economies still in recession, Mr Brown said that Spain's economy was also contracting. | |
The Tories said it was "simply not true" Spain was in the G20 and urged the PM to correct the "inaccuracy". | |
No 10 said that Spain had attended G20 meetings in the past. | |
'Simple question' | |
Spain is not listed as a G20 member on the organisation's website and the Treasury referred questions on the subject to No 10. | |
The row began when Conservative leader David Cameron challenged Mr Brown to acknowledge recent reports he said showed the UK was the only leading world economy still in recession. | |
Among the G20 group of leading industrialised nations - regarded as the most powerful international economic forum - the UK was the only one not to have returned to growth, Mr Cameron said. | |
Mr Brown denied this. "No they don't confirm that," he said. "Spain is a member of the G20 now and it is in recession now." | |
When faced with a simple and direct question, you chose to mislead the House of Commons Philip Hammond, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury | |
Spain is not officially a member of the G20 although it has been invited to attend key meetings, including the London summit on global economic recovery earlier this year. | Spain is not officially a member of the G20 although it has been invited to attend key meetings, including the London summit on global economic recovery earlier this year. |
But the Conservatives said Mr Brown had made a mistake and should correct it as soon as possible. | |
"When faced with a simple and direct question, you chose to mislead the House of Commons by stating that Spain is in the G20," said Philip Hammond, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury. | |
Mr Hammond noted that the Conservative leader, himself, apologised on Monday for getting his facts wrong over government funding for schools with alleged links to an Islamic group. | |
"I trust that you [Mr Brown] too will take the earliest opportunity on the floor of the House to apologise and amend the record," he added. | |
'1930s mindset' | '1930s mindset' |
The US, France and Germany are among members of the G20 to return to growth in recent months. | |
The chancellor has said he expects the UK to emerge out of recession at "the turn of the year". | |
Spain is a member of the G20 now and it is in recession now Gordon Brown PMQs: From BBC Democracy Live Nick Robinson on PM's performance | |
In the Commons, Mr Cameron said Mr Brown's claim that the UK was "leading the world" out of recession had been proved completely wrong and Britain was actually being "left behind". | |
"The fact is it that it his policies which have given us the longest and deepest recession in our history," he said. | "The fact is it that it his policies which have given us the longest and deepest recession in our history," he said. |
But Mr Brown said the Tories had opposed a string of Labour policies that would help to shorten the recession, including bank rescues, the fiscal stimulus and support for jobs and mortgage holders. | |
"They have been wrong on the recession. They will be wrong on the recovery," he said. | "They have been wrong on the recession. They will be wrong on the recovery," he said. |
Attacking Mr Cameron's personal economic philosophy, he added: "The voice may be that of a modern public relations man. The mindset is that of the 1930s." | Attacking Mr Cameron's personal economic philosophy, he added: "The voice may be that of a modern public relations man. The mindset is that of the 1930s." |
He also attacked the Conservatives' plans to increase the inheritance tax threshold, saying it appeared to have been drawn up "on the playing fields of Eton". | |
The clash came a week before the government's pre-Budget report, the last before next year's election. |