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Brown accused over Northern Rock Brown accused over Northern Rock
(9 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has been accused of failing to answer questions on Northern Rock, including why its most profitable part will not be nationalised.Gordon Brown has been accused of failing to answer questions on Northern Rock, including why its most profitable part will not be nationalised.
Tory leader David Cameron also demanded to know how long the bank would be publicly owned and why it was exempted from Freedom of Information laws.Tory leader David Cameron also demanded to know how long the bank would be publicly owned and why it was exempted from Freedom of Information laws.
He told MPs Mr Brown's lack of openness would "make Fidel Castro proud".He told MPs Mr Brown's lack of openness would "make Fidel Castro proud".
Mr Brown said the government had acted in taxpayers' interests and said the Tories had no credible alternative.Mr Brown said the government had acted in taxpayers' interests and said the Tories had no credible alternative.
The government is rushing through emergency legislation to nationalise Northern Rock after efforts to find a private buyer failed.The government is rushing through emergency legislation to nationalise Northern Rock after efforts to find a private buyer failed.
But opposition MPs are concerned it has not done enough to protect taxpayers if the bank runs into further trouble.But opposition MPs are concerned it has not done enough to protect taxpayers if the bank runs into further trouble.
'Rubbish' assets'Rubbish' assets
There is particular concern about the role of Granite - a Jersey-based trust set up by Northern Rock in 1999 to package up and sell on its best mortgages to investors - which owns about half of the bank's assets.There is particular concern about the role of Granite - a Jersey-based trust set up by Northern Rock in 1999 to package up and sell on its best mortgages to investors - which owns about half of the bank's assets.
We now need to have a very rapid and thorough explanation of exactly what's gone on here because this could be stopped in the House of Lords unless there's a proper explanation Vince Cable Lib Dem treasury spokesman Ministers have so far completely failed to answer how the continued existence of Granite will be anything other than an asset stripping operation Vince Cable Lib Dem treasury spokesman
Granite contains about £45bn of Northern Rock's most profitable mortgages but it will not be nationalised - leading opposition MPs to claim taxpayers will be left with the "rubbish" in the bank's mortgage book.Granite contains about £45bn of Northern Rock's most profitable mortgages but it will not be nationalised - leading opposition MPs to claim taxpayers will be left with the "rubbish" in the bank's mortgage book.
Mr Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg both raised the issue at prime minister's questions in the Commons.Mr Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg both raised the issue at prime minister's questions in the Commons.
Mr Clegg said the way the nationalisation had been handled was "jeopardising the interests of the British taxpayers". Mr Brown insisted "stability" was the government's "watchword" - and Granite would "not affect the sale of Northern Rock to a private buyer".Mr Clegg said the way the nationalisation had been handled was "jeopardising the interests of the British taxpayers". Mr Brown insisted "stability" was the government's "watchword" - and Granite would "not affect the sale of Northern Rock to a private buyer".
Responding to questions from Mr Cameron, Mr Brown said it was necessary to exempt Northern Rock from freedom of information laws because of commercial confidentiality.Responding to questions from Mr Cameron, Mr Brown said it was necessary to exempt Northern Rock from freedom of information laws because of commercial confidentiality.
'Student politics''Student politics'
He claimed the Conservatives had been through six different policies on Northern Rock, with their latest set of proposals amounting to "fire sale" of its assets.He claimed the Conservatives had been through six different policies on Northern Rock, with their latest set of proposals amounting to "fire sale" of its assets.
Mr Cameron described the prime minister's answers as "feeble" as several other publicly-owned companies were subject to FoI laws.Mr Cameron described the prime minister's answers as "feeble" as several other publicly-owned companies were subject to FoI laws.
He said Mr Brown had failed to say what the total liability to the taxpayer would be over Northern Rock, how long the public would own it and why half of its mortgages would be left in private hands.He said Mr Brown had failed to say what the total liability to the taxpayer would be over Northern Rock, how long the public would own it and why half of its mortgages would be left in private hands.
Mr Brown accused Mr Cameron of reducing the Northern Rock issue to the level of "student politics" and said the government had acted in the best interests of taxpayers.Mr Brown accused Mr Cameron of reducing the Northern Rock issue to the level of "student politics" and said the government had acted in the best interests of taxpayers.
'Asset-stripping' claim'Asset-stripping' claim
Clashes are also expected later in the House of Lords as peers debate the nationalisation of Northern Rock, with the Lib Dems expected saying they could vote against it if they do not get a satisfactory explanation of the role of Granite. Clashes are also expected later in the House of Lords as peers debate the nationalisation of Northern Rock.
On Tuesday, Lib Dem treasury spokesman Vince Cable accused chief secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper of not knowing what was happening to the mortgages held by the offshore trust. The Lib Dems are threatening to vote against it setting up the possibility of the bill 'ping ponging' between the Lords and the Commons as the government battles to get it on the statute book by its deadline of Thursday.
During an emergency Commons debate on the bill to nationalise the bank, Mr Cable said: "What is going on here appears to be not public ownership of Northern Rock but an asset-stripping operation designed to benefit whoever, we don't know. This is a very serious development." Lib Dem treasury spokesman Vince Cable earlier accused chief secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper of not knowing what was happening to the mortgages held by the offshore trust.
He said the remainder of Northern Rock's assets, which are being acquired by the government, included poor quality loans and unsecured mortgages for up to 125% of the value of a home. "Ministers have so far completely failed to answer how the continued existence of Granite will be anything other than an asset stripping operation, designed to protect this segment of the bank's activities while the taxpayer is left with unsecured loans and high risk mortgages.
'Ping pong threat' "The shambolic performance of ministers in Parliament last night (Tuesday) smacks of a Treasury that is out of control.
Mr Cable added: "We now need to have a very rapid and thorough explanation of exactly what's gone on here because this could be stopped in the House of Lords unless there's a proper explanation." "The government must explain how it will ensure that taxpayers will not end up picking up the scraps of Northern Rock from Granite's table."
Ms Cooper insisted the government had made the position on Granite clear and taken everything into account and that taxpayers would not be made to the foot the bill if it collapsed. Mr Cable has written to Chancellor Alistair Darling to ask why Granite will not be nationalised and, although the Lib Dems support nationalisation, they will vote against it in the Lords if they do not get a satisfactory explanation.
Jobs 'threat'
In Tuesday night's debate, Ms Cooper insisted the government had made the position on Granite clear and taken everything into account and that taxpayers would not be made to the foot the bill if it collapsed.
"It is a separate legal entity, it will not be covered by the order - but equally it was not covered by the government guarantees and we have made that clear from the beginning," she said."It is a separate legal entity, it will not be covered by the order - but equally it was not covered by the government guarantees and we have made that clear from the beginning," she said.
But former Conservative chancellor Kenneth Clarke persisted: "The best assets are in Granite.But former Conservative chancellor Kenneth Clarke persisted: "The best assets are in Granite.
"It looks as though there is a contract enabling more assets to be drawn in and it is the rubbish in the assets that we are now nationalising.""It looks as though there is a contract enabling more assets to be drawn in and it is the rubbish in the assets that we are now nationalising."
Labour MP John McDonnell said he was writing to the chancellor to demand an explanation of Granite's role, which he said increased the burden on the taxpayer and put Northern Rock jobs at risk.Labour MP John McDonnell said he was writing to the chancellor to demand an explanation of Granite's role, which he said increased the burden on the taxpayer and put Northern Rock jobs at risk.
Emergency legislation to nationalise the stricken bank was rushed through the Commons in a single day on Tuesday, with the government hoping to get in to the statute books by Thursday.Emergency legislation to nationalise the stricken bank was rushed through the Commons in a single day on Tuesday, with the government hoping to get in to the statute books by Thursday.