Brown's "re-launch" faces first Commons clash
Wednesday, 9 January 2008 12:00 AM
Gordon Brown's re-launch is "doomed to failure", David Cameron declared today.
In the first Commons clash of the new year between the two party leaders, Mr Cameron attempted to sustain the attack on the prime minister that saw support for the government slump in the end-of-year opinion polls.
The prime minister began this week with the launch of ambitious reforms to reshape a more patient-focused NHS. Yesterday saw Mr Brown face the media at Downing Street as he outlined the challenges facing Britain amid a global economic downturn.
Throughout the series of scandals and errors that beset the government at the end of last year, Mr Brown adopted the mantra that he was taking the long-term decisions and urged voters to judge him on his long-term successes.
But today the Conservative leader told the Commons the government's capital gains tax policy is in "complete confusion," that the prime minister "cannot make up his mind" about the next governor of the Bank of England, and his ID card programme is in "full retreat".
"And all this from a prime minister who's lost everyone's identities, seen a run on the bank [and] got his ministers rocked from one funding scandal to another."
M Cameron continued: "He can talk about long-termism all he likes but everybody knows it's just a smokescreen for the short-term mess that he's made."
The prime minister's re-launch is "utterly doomed to fail," Mr Cameron concluded.
Mr Brown attempted to attack his rival for a series of "pre-rehearsed lines" and once again tried to portray the Conservative leader as lacking in substance.
The prime minister told MPs: "When it comes to the economy, people are asking when will he face up to the big challenges.
"Nobody knows what he thinks about the big challenges; not the country, not his party and probably not even himself."
Today also saw new Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's first appearance at prime minister's questions.
In contrast to Mr Cameron's aggressive style, Mr Clegg appeared keen to show a serious side to his politics, asking questions on fuel poverty.
Mr Brown said it was "regrettable" fuel prices had to rise but this had been a result of rising wholesale prices. He insisted the government would do "everything in its power" to avoid fuel poverty.
Mr Cameron also welcomed his new companion on the opposition benches, as the latest opinion polls suggest the Tories risk losing support to the Lib Dems.
The Tory leader reminded MPs Mr Clegg was the fourth Lib Dem leader he had faced, adding he was "relieved it is no longer my party that has got this habit of replacing its leader on quite such a regular basis".
"I'm on my second Labour prime minister as well," he added.
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