Cameron: Brown doesn't have the courage to go to Crewe

Mr Brown faced another testing time at PMQs

Wednesday, 21, May 2008 12:00

Prime minister Brown doesn't have the courage to go to Crewe for tomorrow's by-election, David Cameron has said at prime minister's question time.

Mr Brown responded that prime ministers never go to by-elections.

Mr Cameron replied that Tony Blair had rejected that tradition by saying he should "lead from the front", to cheers from Tory backbenchers.

Mr Cameron also pushed Mr Brown on whether his mini-budget tax packages would continue past 2009, echoing concerns from the Insitute of Fiscal Studies which showed 10 million families would still be worse off if the package was not continued.

He then highlighted how Alistair Darling, the chancellor, had admitted on BBC's Newsnight programme the package would be a one-off measure.

Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, pushed Mr Brown on his Afghanistan policy following his trip to the region this week.

"Much of our defence expenditure continues to be allocated to Cold War priorities... Will the prime minister commit to a new defence review?" Mr Cameron continued.

Mr Brown said the government had already made major investments in giving the armed forces the equipment they need.

Tories pushed the prime minister to accept personal responsibility for the "10p tax rate fiasco". But Mr Brown called on the Tories to support Labour's mini-budget in his response.

Mr Brown then batted away dire warning about the state of the economy from the Conservative benches.

The prime minister was asked if he would heed protests from Commonwealth countries about the cutting in half of the tourist visa duration from six to three months.

Mr Brown said he would listen to the complaints from Australia, among others, but pointed out it was an Australian immigration system the UK was adopting.