Brown 'treating people like fools' says Cameron

Tory leader David Cameron today accused the Prime Minister of "treating the British people like fools" over the aborted election and yesterday's mini-budget.

In rowdy Commons question time exchanges, Mr Cameron branded Mr Brown a "phoney" who had lost his political authority and was losing his moral authority.

To Tory laughter, he told him: "You are the first Prime Minister in history to flunk an election because you thought you were going to win it."

But Mr Brown angrily retorted that he would take no lectures from the Leader of the Opposition and would continue to govern in the interests of the country.

What mattered to the people of Britain was improvements in health and education and Labour was delivering them, he insisted.

Tories jeered jubilantly as Mr Cameron faced Mr Brown across the despatch box at question time for the first time since the summer recess - and the first time since the Prime Minister called off an autumn election.

Mr Cameron began his assault, demanding: "The big question this week is can we believe what you say?

"Let's start with your credibility gulf over the election. You were asked: 'hand on heart if the polls showed a 100 seat majority would you still have called off the election' and you said 'yes'.

"Do you expect anyone to believe that?"

Mr Brown replied, to loud Tory jeers: "I will take no lectures from you, who this summer was for grammar schools and then against them, for VAT on air fares and then against it, for parking charges and then against it."

Mr Cameron asked if the Prime Minister remembered writing in his book on courage "'As far back as I can remember, I've been fascinated by stories of people who took brave decisions ... especially when more comfortable and far less dangerous alternatives were available'.

"Do you realise what a phoney you now look? Have you found a single person who believes your excuses for cancelling the election?"

Mr Brown said a petition on the Downing Street website calling for an election had been signed by just 26 people.

"We will govern in the interests of the people and what matters to the people is the health service, education and housing and we will govern to make them better in this country."

Mr Cameron told him: "You are going to have to do better than that.

"Did the draft of the pre-budget report written before the Conservative conference include plans for the taxation of non-domiciles and the raising of inheritance tax - a simple question, yes or no?"

Mr Brown said, to further Tory jeers: "If you look back to the summer and interviews given by the Chancellor, he talked about these very issues.

"We have raised the exemption on inheritance tax on 10 occasions since 1997. We have dealt with the issue of tax avoidance and non-residents on many occasions since 1997.

"We are going to continue to take the right decisions for the country."

Mr Brown said the Tories should explain why there were not, as they claimed, 150,000 non-domiciles to pay the planned tax, but 15,000.

"When the Conservatives look at the official figures, they will find they can only raise £650 million - not £3.5 billion.

"As for inheritance tax - and I welcome the debate we're going to have on this - we can exempt estates below £700,000 by 2010 and put money into health and education.

"The Conservatives are going to put £2 billion into giving money to those with estates of £950,000 - those who are already rich.

"When the debate is held in the country, people will choose our policies and reject theirs."

Mr Cameron hit back, saying: "I'll tell you what, if you've got some questions about our policy, find a bit of courage, discover a bit of bottle, get in your car and go down to Buckingham Palace and call that election.

"You now tell us you were planning to change inheritance tax and policy on non-doms all along. You are treating the British people like fools.

"Next you will be telling us how much you admire Margaret Thatcher!"

He went on: "Your manifesto promised a referendum on the European constitution. Do you understand how it damages your credibility by not holding a referendum."