Brown "guarantees" economic stability
Wednesday, 19 March 2008 12:00 AM
Gordon Brown has admitted 2008 will be a "tough year" for many households but vowed to maintain economic stability.
Writing in the Sun, the prime minister has appealed to "hardworking families" to have faith in his economic abilities.
His intervention comes as the Conservatives increasingly argue Mr Brown's tenure at the Treasury has left Britain ill-prepared to weather an economic downturn.
Writing in the newspaper, Mr Brown pledged his government would steer Britain through the economic crisis.
"My guarantee to the British people is that we will hold on to stability in these tough times," he wrote.
"We enter this latest period of uncertainty more stable and more resilient than at any other time in our history."
The Conservatives have rejected this claim, however, arguing Mr Brown failed to shore up the economy during the boom years.
In his Budget last week, chancellor Alistair Darling was accused of downplaying the effect of the global credit crunch on the British economy, with analysts concluding he had presented the least-worst scenario for economic growth.
But Mr Brown wrote today that British people "know this is going to be a tough year".
"They are already feeling the pinch with their shopping and fuel bills," he continued.
"But they know the Labour government has got the economy through tough times in the past".
Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan yesterday accused Mr Brown of "wasting" a decade at No 11.
He said the former chancellor had spent it "boasting" about spending but not appreciating the consequences.
This has lead to a massive rise in government borrowing and a consumer economy fuelled by personal debt, he told a Commons debate on the Budget.
The prime minister's official spokesman said yesterday Mr Brown would do whatever was necessary to maintain economic stability.
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