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| Leaders clash on tax and spending | Leaders clash on tax and spending |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gordon Brown and David Cameron have clashed over National Insurance and spending plans, in their final Commons battle before the 6 May election. | Gordon Brown and David Cameron have clashed over National Insurance and spending plans, in their final Commons battle before the 6 May election. |
| The Tory leader attacked the PM for saying businesses backing Tory plans to curb NI rises had been "deceived". | The Tory leader attacked the PM for saying businesses backing Tory plans to curb NI rises had been "deceived". |
| Mr Brown did not repeat the phrase but said his planned NI rise meant schools, police and NHS pledges would be funded. | Mr Brown did not repeat the phrase but said his planned NI rise meant schools, police and NHS pledges would be funded. |
| Lib Dem Nick Clegg attacked both for "colluding" to block political reform and told Mr Brown: "It's time to go." | Lib Dem Nick Clegg attacked both for "colluding" to block political reform and told Mr Brown: "It's time to go." |
| In rowdy clashes at the last prime minister's questions ahead of the general election on 6 May, Mr Brown and Mr Cameron each accused the other of policies that would damage the economic recovery. | In rowdy clashes at the last prime minister's questions ahead of the general election on 6 May, Mr Brown and Mr Cameron each accused the other of policies that would damage the economic recovery. |
| 'Tax on aspiration' | 'Tax on aspiration' |
| Labour has been warning that Conservative plans to reduce public spending this year would threaten the economic recovery and could lead to a "double dip" recession. | Labour has been warning that Conservative plans to reduce public spending this year would threaten the economic recovery and could lead to a "double dip" recession. |
| But Mr Cameron said it was Labour's policies that threatened the economy - by raising National Insurance contributions from April 2011. | But Mr Cameron said it was Labour's policies that threatened the economy - by raising National Insurance contributions from April 2011. |
| "This prime minister would wreck the recovery by putting a tax on every job, on everyone earning over £20,000, a tax on aspiration, a tax on every business in the country," he said. | "This prime minister would wreck the recovery by putting a tax on every job, on everyone earning over £20,000, a tax on aspiration, a tax on every business in the country," he said. |
| Earlier Mr Brown said business leaders who backed the Tory plans had been "deceived" - Mr Cameron used his questions at prime minister's questions to quote others who criticised government policy on pension funds and the armed forces - and ask if they had been "deceived" as well. | Earlier Mr Brown said business leaders who backed the Tory plans had been "deceived" - Mr Cameron used his questions at prime minister's questions to quote others who criticised government policy on pension funds and the armed forces - and ask if they had been "deceived" as well. |
| We can't cut our way to recovery Gordon Brown Day-at-a-glance: 7 April Live coverage: Text and video href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8607698.stm">Brown proposes political reforms class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/haveyoursay/2010/04/what_has_this_parliament_meant.html">What is this Parliament's legacy? Cider tax rise faces dropped | |
| Ocado founder Tim Steiner, Asos chief executive Nick Robertson, Monsoon's Peter Simon and Yell chairman Bob Wigley are the latest to publicly back the Tories' pledge to scrap the bulk of the NI rise. | Ocado founder Tim Steiner, Asos chief executive Nick Robertson, Monsoon's Peter Simon and Yell chairman Bob Wigley are the latest to publicly back the Tories' pledge to scrap the bulk of the NI rise. |
| The Tory leader said the final Commons clash ahead of the general election was the "last chance for this prime minister to show that he is accountable for the decisions he has made". | The Tory leader said the final Commons clash ahead of the general election was the "last chance for this prime minister to show that he is accountable for the decisions he has made". |
| He said Mr Brown should admit that British troops sent into Afghanistan's Helmand province did not have sufficient equipment "to get the job done". | He said Mr Brown should admit that British troops sent into Afghanistan's Helmand province did not have sufficient equipment "to get the job done". |
| Mr Brown dismissed the attack - saying he met every request from commanding officers adding: "We have done our best to equip our troops." Mr Cameron said Mr Brown "takes no responsibility and blames someone else". | Mr Brown dismissed the attack - saying he met every request from commanding officers adding: "We have done our best to equip our troops." Mr Cameron said Mr Brown "takes no responsibility and blames someone else". |
| Pension funds | Pension funds |
| The Tory leader also accused Mr Brown of "robbing the pension funds" - Mr Brown said the Conservatives had cut the link between pensions and earnings and his government had introduced pension tax credits and subsidised pensioner travel. | The Tory leader also accused Mr Brown of "robbing the pension funds" - Mr Brown said the Conservatives had cut the link between pensions and earnings and his government had introduced pension tax credits and subsidised pensioner travel. |
| Mr Brown said the NI rise would protect investment in schools, police and NHS guarantees, while the Conservatives would "put hospitals, police and our health service at risk" - claiming they would take £6bn out of the economy. | Mr Brown said the NI rise would protect investment in schools, police and NHS guarantees, while the Conservatives would "put hospitals, police and our health service at risk" - claiming they would take £6bn out of the economy. |
| ANALYSIS OF COMMONS CLASH Colette McBeth, BBC political correspondent So what did we learn? Well, David Cameron thinks Gordon Brown is a master of deception, who's hoodwinked the public on funding for helicopters in Helmand and robbed pension funds. | |
| Then he pulled out his joker - announcing another 30 business leaders were supporting Conservative plans to block National Insurance rises. The Conservatives know Labour don't want to pick a fight with business, which is why they are keen to stoke one. | Then he pulled out his joker - announcing another 30 business leaders were supporting Conservative plans to block National Insurance rises. The Conservatives know Labour don't want to pick a fight with business, which is why they are keen to stoke one. |
| But Gordon Brown said it was all about a choice. You could raise NI contributions and protect public services or you could cut them and schools, policing and hospitals would suffer. You couldn't have it both ways. To much merriment, he threw David Cameron's famous line to Tony Blair back at him: "You were the future once." | But Gordon Brown said it was all about a choice. You could raise NI contributions and protect public services or you could cut them and schools, policing and hospitals would suffer. You couldn't have it both ways. To much merriment, he threw David Cameron's famous line to Tony Blair back at him: "You were the future once." |
| Nick Clegg was angry. He told them they'd both failed, colluding in blocking reform to our political system. "It's time to go" he said. | Nick Clegg was angry. He told them they'd both failed, colluding in blocking reform to our political system. "It's time to go" he said. |
| This is what we will hear over and over again in the next few weeks. It's all about a choice. Who do you trust with political reform, public services and the money in your pocket? | This is what we will hear over and over again in the next few weeks. It's all about a choice. Who do you trust with political reform, public services and the money in your pocket? |
| "We can't cut our way to recovery," Mr Brown said. | |
| It comes as the parties each highlight their plans for political reform - including changes to the voting system - a subject which has been increasingly discussed in the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal. | |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg accused both parties of "trying to fool people they are serious about political reform" - when they had failed to agree reform of party funding. | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg accused both parties of "trying to fool people they are serious about political reform" - when they had failed to agree reform of party funding. |
| And he criticised the government for failing to deliver on 1997 promises for a "new politics": "Look at them now: You failed, it's over, it's time to go," the Lib Dem leader said. | And he criticised the government for failing to deliver on 1997 promises for a "new politics": "Look at them now: You failed, it's over, it's time to go," the Lib Dem leader said. |
| He also attacked the "stitch up" between the two biggest parties which saw "the most mouse-like" attempts at reform - including a commitment to hold a referendum on changing the first-past-the-post voting system - shelved. | He also attacked the "stitch up" between the two biggest parties which saw "the most mouse-like" attempts at reform - including a commitment to hold a referendum on changing the first-past-the-post voting system - shelved. |
| It was one of several government plans shelved as parties negotiate over which remaining bills will become law before Parliament is dissolved on Monday. | It was one of several government plans shelved as parties negotiate over which remaining bills will become law before Parliament is dissolved on Monday. |
| But Mr Brown outlined new plans to hold two referendums - one on changing the voting system and one on reforming the House of Lords - if Labour wins the election. | But Mr Brown outlined new plans to hold two referendums - one on changing the voting system and one on reforming the House of Lords - if Labour wins the election. |
| 'Corrupt politics' | 'Corrupt politics' |
| He also pledged to introduce fixed-term parliaments and give people the right to "recall" MPs guilty of "gross financial misconduct" before a general election, to ban MPs from lobbying and force them to get outside jobs approved by an independent body. | He also pledged to introduce fixed-term parliaments and give people the right to "recall" MPs guilty of "gross financial misconduct" before a general election, to ban MPs from lobbying and force them to get outside jobs approved by an independent body. |
| Acknowledging there had been a "fundamental rupture" in public trust in politics, he said the proposed changes would be the most "comprehensive" for 100 years. | |
| The Conservatives, who will also give people the right to "recall" MPs "found guilty of wrongdoing", said Labour's proposals had not been "properly thought through". | |
| The Lib Dems point out they have long campaigned for a right of recall. Mr Clegg said only his party could be trusted with renewing the political system and the two "old parties" had blocked "serious reform every step of the way". | The Lib Dems point out they have long campaigned for a right of recall. Mr Clegg said only his party could be trusted with renewing the political system and the two "old parties" had blocked "serious reform every step of the way". |
| Throughout the day parties have stepped up attacks on each other. | Throughout the day parties have stepped up attacks on each other. |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson accused Mr Cameron of acting as if the election was already won. | |
| Answering questions from bakery workers in Bolton, the Tory leader pledged more support for manufacturing, by expanding apprenticeships and technical schools and giving more government contracts to small firms, claiming its decline under Labour had been "a tragedy". | |
| Mr Clegg, who has been campaigning in Liverpool, said both parties were part of a "corrupt politics". | |