Tory leader david Cameron accused the prime minister of deceit during stormy commons exchanges
Brown denounces ‘crude’ personal attacks over honesty
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Gordon Brown yesterday denounced the use of “crude” personal attacks after weeks in which the Tories have tried to focus the debate on the issue of the prime minister’s own honesty.
Tory leader David Cameron accused him of “deceit” during Wednesday’s stormy Commons exchange. And yesterday Mr Cameron suggested Mr Brown was not able to have an “honest conversation” with voters about the inevitability of cuts. Mr Brown rejected the charge of dishonesty and said politicians should “think twice” before making personal accusations.
“I think if someone is called dishonest, there is an assumption that there is some wilful desire to mislead and there is some corruption involved, and I don’t think that is the case,” the prime minister told Channel 4 News.
“There is a crudity developed in the language that people use in politics that people are now accepting as almost everyday language, to accuse people of this or that.
“I think people have to think twice before they make accusations. I do not make personal attacks on people. I have tried to avoid doing that during my political career.”
Tory allegations of dishonesty have been directed at Mr Brown’s insistence that Labour will not scale back public spending after the general election, as well as his claim that the Conservatives are committed to 10% cuts.
Yesterday Mr Cameron suggested Mr Brown lacked the leadership qualities to tell voters the truth about Britain’s economic position.
The Tory leader told the Local Government Association conference in Harrogate: “We’ve got to look the British public in the eye and have an honest conversation about the financial situation. And there’s no point pretending, as our prime minister does, that it’s just not there.”
Mr Cameron said there was “no doubt” that the winner of the upcoming election would be faced with the most difficult public finances of any prime minister in 40 years.
Banks were still not lending, unemployment was rising, and insolvencies were “going through the roof”.
“I passionately believe our country will come through this. But only if – and I mean only if – we tell people the truth and what is happening,” added the Tory leader.
Speaking in Yorkshire, Mr Brown said maintaining spending was vital to stimulate the growth that can save jobs and bring Britain out of the recession. “We will invest our way through this downturn,” he said.
