UK: British PM Brown denies breaking promises as opponent Cameron taunts him over his decision not to call a general election

Gordon Brown faces taunts from opposition leader David Cameron in Parliament over his decision to abandon plans for a 'snap' general election. British opposition leader David Cameron taunted Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday (October 10), branding his opponent a "phoney" after scrapping plans for an early election and facing charges of stealing Conservative tax policies. The two clashed during rowdy exchanges in Parliament at the chamber's weekly Prime Minister's Question Time session. The sharp exchanges were the most ferocious between the two since Brown became Premier, and followed the controversy over policy poaching which overshadowed Tuesday's (October 9) "mini-budget". One heated exchange took place when Cameron jumped to his feet and said of his opponent: "He's the first Prime Minister in history to flunk an election because he thought he was going to win it. Does he remember writing this? It's in his best-selling book about courage. 'As far back as I can remember I've been fascinated by men and women of courage, stories of people who rook brave decisions in the service of great causes, especially when more comfortable and far less dangerous options were open to them.' Does he realise what a phoney he now looks? Has he found a single person who believes his excuses for cancelling the election?" Brown's response was that "what matters to the people is the health service, education, housing, and we will govern to to make housing, health and education better in this country." The Conservative leader also demanded to know whether the draft of Tuesday's (October 9) pre-budget report had contained proposals on inheritance tax and non-domiciled residents - issues where the Government is accused of stealing Tory ideas. Brown hit back by claiming that his Chancellor, Alistair Darling, had mentioned the idea of reviewing inheritance tax changes "ten times" this summer. Cameron labelled the premier "a phoney" before repeating his demand that Brown call a national referendum on the ratification of the new European constitution. Labour's manifesto in its successful 2005 general election contained a promise for a referendum on an earlier treaty, which has since been modified. Cameron said: "Your manifesto said, the Prime Minister has said that the Labour manifesto was an issue of trust. That referendum promised a referendum on the European constitution. Do you understand how it damages your credibility by not holding that referendum?" Brown countered: "If we were having a debate on the euro we'd have a referendum. If it was the old treaty we'd have a referendum but because we have won in negotiation by standing up for British interest then all the red lines that we asked for have been achieved." The premier was forced to rule out an election this year despite weeks of government whispers that he might try to capitalise on a huge poll lead by calling a contest three years earlier than he must. His opinion poll lead narrowed sharply, however, after the Conservatives issued proposals to cut inheritance tax and duty for first-time buyers and the opposition have accused him of cowardice for backing off from an early election.

ITN Source | October 10, 2007

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