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Tories back quicker spending cuts Tories back quicker spending cuts
(30 minutes later)
Conservative leader David Cameron has said his party would "go further" than Labour in cutting the UK's £178bn budget deficit, if they win power.Conservative leader David Cameron has said his party would "go further" than Labour in cutting the UK's £178bn budget deficit, if they win power.
The government has pledged to halve Britain's deficit over four years but Mr Cameron told the BBC: "We need to make more progress more quickly."The government has pledged to halve Britain's deficit over four years but Mr Cameron told the BBC: "We need to make more progress more quickly."
He said ministers wanted to delay decisions until after the election. But he accepted that plans outlined by the Tories so far were "not enough" to balance the books.
And he unveiled plans to help set up new firms, saying Britain would trade its way out of recession. The government says Conservative plans risk "choking off" the recovery.
The main parties have clashed on tax and spending as they seek to set the agenda in the build-up to the general election - widely expected to be held in May.The main parties have clashed on tax and spending as they seek to set the agenda in the build-up to the general election - widely expected to be held in May.
'Not enough''Not enough'
The government has introduced a Fiscal Responsibility Bill in Parliament aimed at halving the deficit in four years - something the Conservatives have labelled a "feeble stunt". The government has introduced a Fiscal Responsibility Bill in Parliament aimed at halving the deficit in four years - but Mr Cameron said Mr Brown's plan was to "put every decision off until after the election and say as little as possible between now and then".
He accepted that Conservative plans to reduce costs announced so far did not go far enough but said they were a "big contrast" to what the government had announced.
I'm sorry it happened. I think it was a form of silliness Gordon Brown on leadership row Darling in tough spending cut vow Coup bid was 'silliness' says PM
Asked if he would do more than halve the deficit in four years, Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "We think you have to go further than what the government say, you have to start earlier."Asked if he would do more than halve the deficit in four years, Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "We think you have to go further than what the government say, you have to start earlier."
He said economists agreed with his party that reducing the deficit - the gap between what the government is spending and its income from tax - was "not an alternative to a growing economy, it's part of getting the economy to grow". One consequence of the "shambles of this week" - a reference to a failed bid by two former Labour ministers to hold a secret ballot on Gordon Brown's leadership - was that the PM and chancellor now agreed his party had "got it right" on the need for cuts, he said.
We will not make a pledge to get rid of that National Insurance contribution increase until we can find a way of paying for it David Cameron class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8449716.stm">Darling in tough spending cut vow The BBC understands Mr Darling, who has reportedly been frustrated by the PM's messages on cuts, met Mr Brown on Wednesday before publicly rejecting the revolt.
But he accepted that spending cuts the Conservatives have already committed to do are "not enough" to balance the books. On Sunday Mr Brown dismissed the ballot call as a "form of silliness" in a newspaper interview.
And he admitted that while he thought the government's planned 0.5% National Insurance rise from 2011 was the wrong approach - he could not yet commit not to bring it in, if he won power. Mr Cameron said economists agreed with his party that reducing the deficit - the gap between what the government is spending and its income from tax - was "part of getting the economy to grow".
"We will not make a pledge to get rid of that National Insurance contribution increase until we can find a way of paying for it," he said. Plans for business
He also outlined measures to help new business start-ups adding: "We are going to get out of this recession by trading our way out, by business deciding to employ people to create wealth, to go after new markets, to export." He also said that while he thought the government's planned 0.5% National Insurance rise from 2011 was the wrong approach - he could not say he would "get rid" of it "until we can find a way of paying for it".
'Anti-aspiration' He said it was wrong to believe public spending would pull Britain out of recession - the government says Tory plans to begin cutting the deficit earlier risk deepening the recession.
He said it took 14 days to start a new business in the UK, which he hoped to reduce, with the "ambition of making this one of the fastest places in the world to start up a new business". "We are going to get out of this recession by trading our way out, by business deciding to employ people to create wealth, to go after new markets, to export," Mr Cameron said.
His party would also lift the insolvency threshold from £750 to £2,000 to protect small businesses and talk to social landlords who prevent tenants running firms in their properties. The government is spending vast amounts of money. They have got more spin doctors, more advisers, more press officers than they have ever had. So I think the money we are spending is responsible David Cameron
He accused Labour of an "anti-aspiration, anti-achievement culture" and of making it difficult to employ people and start up businesses. He outlined plans to change rules stopping social housing tenants from setting up businesses in their home, reducing the time it takes to start a new business and lifting the insolvency threshold from £750 to £2,000 to protect small businesses.
"The message that seems to be coming out of Labour at the moment is 'don't start a business, don't buy your home, don't try and leave money to your children, don't try and get on'," he said."The message that seems to be coming out of Labour at the moment is 'don't start a business, don't buy your home, don't try and leave money to your children, don't try and get on'," he said.
"All of that is going to change.""All of that is going to change."
Election spending
He said it was wrong to believe public spending would pull Britain out of recession. The government says Tory plans to begin cutting the deficit earlier risk deepening the recession.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has accused the Tories of mounting "the most expensive election campaign in British political history" backed by "wealthy suitors".Justice Secretary Jack Straw has accused the Tories of mounting "the most expensive election campaign in British political history" backed by "wealthy suitors".
'Tough' cuts
Mr Cameron confirmed the party planned to spend £18m - the legal limit on election campaigning - but said the Central Office of Information, which he described as "the government's advertising arm", had a £500m budget.Mr Cameron confirmed the party planned to spend £18m - the legal limit on election campaigning - but said the Central Office of Information, which he described as "the government's advertising arm", had a £500m budget.
"The government is spending vast amounts of money. They have got more spin doctors, more advisers, more press officers than they have ever had. So I think the money we are spending is responsible," he said."The government is spending vast amounts of money. They have got more spin doctors, more advisers, more press officers than they have ever had. So I think the money we are spending is responsible," he said.
On Saturday, Chancellor Alistair Darling warned that the next spending review would be the "toughest we have had for 20 years".On Saturday, Chancellor Alistair Darling warned that the next spending review would be the "toughest we have had for 20 years".
In December's pre-Budget report, Labour announced belt-tightening measures including a 1% cap on public sector pay rises and an increase in National Insurance from 2011. He said "many departments" would have budget cuts in in the next few years adding: "We are talking about something like a £57bn reduction in the deficit through tax increases and spending cuts."
Asked if he intended to reduce departmental budgets by more, or simply start cuts earlier, Mr Cameron replied: "It's both and one leads to the other."
A general election must be called by early June but commentators believe 6 May is the most likely date. Mr Darling also appeared to confirm on Saturday that there would be a budget before the election - saying he had one to do "in a couple of months".