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Tories scaring voters, says Brown Tories scaring voters, says Brown
(about 3 hours later)
Gordon Brown has accused the Tories of trying to "scare" people into accepting a "bleak" future with talk of the record deficit. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has accused the Tories of trying to "scare" people into accepting a "bleak" future with talk of the record deficit.
In a speech to centre-left European leaders the prime minister attacked the response of the "well-financed right wing" to the financial crisis. Mr Brown stepped up attacks on the Conservatives ahead of a Labour election event at the weekend.
It comes as more than 60 economists have backed the government's decision to delay spending cuts until 2011. He has been boosted by letters signed by 60 economists, who say they support delaying spending cuts until 2011.
In January ministers borrowed another £4.3bn to plug the hole in UK finances. But shadow chancellor George Osborne said leading economists and business organisations supported the Tories.
The parties' rival plans to tackle the deficit - set to rise to £178bn this year - is set to be a key issue at the election, widely expected to be held on 6 May.The parties' rival plans to tackle the deficit - set to rise to £178bn this year - is set to be a key issue at the election, widely expected to be held on 6 May.
In a speech to centre-left European leaders in London the prime minister attacked the response of the "well-financed right wing" to the financial crisis.
'Bleak and austere''Bleak and austere'
In a speech in London, Mr Brown said the letters from the economists showed the "first priority must be robust growth" and criticised opponents of government action. He said the letters from the economists showed the "first priority must be robust growth" and criticised opponents of government action.
"I say to the British people this is not the time to put the recovery at risk; this is the time to make sure that growth and jobs are secured," he said."I say to the British people this is not the time to put the recovery at risk; this is the time to make sure that growth and jobs are secured," he said.
They seek to frighten us with the present level of the deficit Gordon BrownThey seek to frighten us with the present level of the deficit Gordon Brown
"This well-financed right wing are not only trying to blame governments for the crisis, but trying to use legitimate concerns about deficits to scare people into accepting a bleak and austere picture of the future for the majority." He said opponents of centre-left policies were spreading the "myth" that the government caused the financial crisis and government spending was prolonging it.
He accused "the right-wing" of "using the cloak of action" on debt to hide their "real position" - which he said was "an ideology that would always make government the problem and deny people the helping hand that government can be". And he accused them of "trying to use legitimate concerns about deficits to scare people into accepting a bleak and austere picture of the future for the majority".
Mr Brown added: "As they say of the critics of our growth strategy, they seek to frighten us with the present level of the deficit but mention neither the automatic reduction that would be achieved as and when growth is resumed, nor the effects of growth on investor confidence for the good of the British people." Mr Brown added: "They seek to frighten us with the present level of the deficit but mention neither the automatic reduction that would be achieved as and when growth is resumed, nor the effects of growth on investor confidence for the good of the British people."
On Saturday the Labour Party will launch its election slogan and themes, which will include a promise to secure the economic recovery, and Mr Brown was boosted by the letters from senior economists on Friday. On Saturday, the Labour Party will launch its election slogan and themes, which will include a promise to secure the economic recovery.
But on Sunday, 20 economists backed the Conservatives' call for cuts this year in a letter to the Sunday Times. On Tuesday Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson called for spending cuts to begin this year - saying the UK budget deficit was a "serious risk" to economic recovery. Mortgage rates
Official figures out on Friday showed the government borrowed another £4.3bn last month to plug the growing hole in the UK's finances. The economists' letters have given Mr Brown a boost, but on Sunday, 20 other economists backed the Conservatives' call for cuts this year in a letter to the Sunday Times.
It was the first time the government has borrowed money in January - usually a bumper month for income from tax receipts - since records began in 1993. On Tuesday, Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson also called for spending cuts to begin this year - saying the UK budget deficit was a "serious risk" to economic recovery.
In his speech Mr Brown also accused the Conservative of an "obsession" with "narrow nationalism" - a reference to the party's decision to leave the main centre-right grouping in the European Parliament. It's the lack of a plan of action from Gordon Brown that is undermining confidence in the British economy George OsborneShadow chancellor
He said the party was "totally out of tune with the modern world". The Tories say many business groups agree with them that the government lacks a credible plan to deal with the deficit, risking higher mortgage rates.
The Conservatives have accused ministers of spending more time attacking them than making their own case to stay in power. Mr Osborne said: "There are leading economists who support the Conservative position, but more importantly, there are also leading business organisations, top entrepreneurs - people like Richard Branson - who know more about creating jobs than the entire Labour cabinet put together.
"I would say we are running a very positive, a very invigorating campaign," Mr Cameron said on Thursday. "And people at home know that when you've got a debt problem then you have got to get on and deal with it and that is the key to the recovery."
"I haven't seen any [Labour] posters they have produced that don't have a picture of me on it. They don't seem to have anything positive to say." He added: "It's the lack of a plan of action from Gordon Brown that is undermining confidence in the British economy."
Official figures out on Thursday showed the government borrowed another £4.3bn last month to plug the growing hole in the UK's finances.
It was the first time the government had borrowed money in January - usually a bumper month for income from tax receipts - since records began in 1993.