Labour attack on Tories backfires
"Labour’s attempt to launch their election campaign with an attack on Conservative spending plans backfired when it instead exposed divisions in their own economic policies." (from today's Daily Telegraph).
They point out that
"Alistair Darling refused to commit to keeping the current rate of VAT through the next parliament, just a day after criticising the Conservatives for admitting it may have to go up.
"The Chancellor also seemed to offering a contrasting view to Gordon Brown by freely talking about spending cuts and admitting he would like to lower the deficit more quickly if possible."
Alistair Darling was also unable to refute suggestions that Labour’s plans implied 17 per cent spending cuts in non-protected departments.
George Osborn commented that the Labour dossier attacking Conservative policies showed that the credibility of Labour lies about our policies has collapsed. He added:
"On examination, the dossier includes commitments we have never made, wild exaggerations of our costed policies and in some cases, admissions that some changes would actually be cheaper than we have budgeted for. Labour must be deeply regretting their decision to go negative on a day when the Conservatives have been so positive.”
The Financial Times also leads with the story of the Labour splits exposed by their attacks on the Conservatives: their headline is "Darling and Brown at odds over Deficit."
They point out that
"Alistair Darling refused to commit to keeping the current rate of VAT through the next parliament, just a day after criticising the Conservatives for admitting it may have to go up.
"The Chancellor also seemed to offering a contrasting view to Gordon Brown by freely talking about spending cuts and admitting he would like to lower the deficit more quickly if possible."
Alistair Darling was also unable to refute suggestions that Labour’s plans implied 17 per cent spending cuts in non-protected departments.
George Osborn commented that the Labour dossier attacking Conservative policies showed that the credibility of Labour lies about our policies has collapsed. He added:
"On examination, the dossier includes commitments we have never made, wild exaggerations of our costed policies and in some cases, admissions that some changes would actually be cheaper than we have budgeted for. Labour must be deeply regretting their decision to go negative on a day when the Conservatives have been so positive.”
The Financial Times also leads with the story of the Labour splits exposed by their attacks on the Conservatives: their headline is "Darling and Brown at odds over Deficit."
Comments
It is exasperating to note that not only has the Government failed to respect Whitehall neutrality, but by devoting Treasury time to writing propaganda is yet more evidence of the complete state of denial Labour are in with regard to taking responsibility for the mess they have created in the economy.
Labour have failed to recognise that Britain cannot afford to allow its finances to deteriorate further. Drastic action is necessary to bring down the debt that is adding compound interest by the second.
The dodgy dossier highlights the additional challenge (to the economic one) that next Conservative Government will face, that of restoring civil service political neutrality. In the meantime it can only be hoped that Sir Gus O'Donnell will lay down the law on the subject and prevent further abuse.