GORDON BROWN yesterday vowed to expose his rival David Cameron's "lack of substance" live on TV. The two leaders will go head-to-head in the f irst of three historic election clashes later this week. And in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mail, the Prime Minister warned Tory Cameron's policies would put Britain's recovery - and jobs - at risk. He also promised there would be no squeeze on Scotland's budget if he wins the election.
Brown believes that Labour can still pull ahead in the polls. And he will put his message across in three historic live leaders' debates, beginning this Thursday. Brown, Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg wi l l appear on the same platform for the first time. Yesterday, Brown said: "It will be an opportunity for people to ask about the really important issues - and we've got to get some answers f rom the Conservatives. "People will want to know what the Conservative offer is and do they have a plan for the future. "It's pretty clear to me that they have a lot of spectacle but not substance."
He added: "Why do the they want to cut our schools and policing budget? "Why won't they give a guarantee on cancer wait ing times and why are they taking money out of the economy this year when it put jobs at risk? "The Tories have produced a four-page f l ims y document w i t hout any substantiation to make claims about tax cuts they cannot afford on the basis of f igures they won't produce and expert evidence they won't publish. "I will be putting across the message: 'Don't put the recovery at risk'. "Thousands of jobs would be at risk if the Conservatives went ahead with what they are planning this year. "So the jobs threat of a Conservative government is what I will be talking about over the next few weeks."
The PM vowed Scotland would be protected from cuts if Labour win the general election. The Tories would slash up to £1.5billion offthe annual £30billion Scottish budget within weeks of being elected.But Brown told the Sunday Mail that it would remain untouched by Labour this year as the country pulls out of the recession. Speaking at his home in North Queensferry, Fife, he said: "We have set the Scottish budget for 2010-11. "People want to know we are doing everything in our power to make the economic recovery assured. 2010 is a vital year for Scotland." The PM added: "We must make the recovery entrenched and must secure the jobs to ensure that. "The Conservatives clearly have a different policy to us and I say that policy means that jobs are at risk." The Tories have attacked Labour over plans to raise national insurance by one per cent. But Shadow Chancellor George Obsorne has admitted that under the Tories, there will be massive cuts north of the border, though the Scottish government can defer making the cuts until 2011-12.
Brown said: "We have had to make some difficult decisions. "But we have made them because we want to maintain and protect our frontline services -our schools, our hospitals and our policing. "We will give a budget to the Scottish parliament so they can do so. "The Conservatives have made no such promises to protect frontline services." Brown will also be campaigning to address the scandal of MPs' expenses. Labour have already said MPs would be banned from working for lobbying companies and promised a referendum on proportional representation for Westminster elections. He said: "We are being very, very tough about the events of the past.
"I do not want to be back in Downing Street without a mandate for fundamental political reform, and that will be to the benefit of Scotland." Yesterday, Brown was on home turf as he took to the streets part of his bid to remain at Number 10.
He was out campaigning in his Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency with his wife Sarah.
So far, she has accompanied him to almost every campaign event. The Prime Minister said: "It has been great having Sarah coming with me. "We talk all the time and it is a chance for us to spend more time together. But we want back at night to see our kids, so we don't want to be away from home for too long." Brown also promised to campaign regularly in Scotland during the general election campaign. He said: "I will be back and forward here. I will be going round the whole of the country but it is great to be back home and to meet people I have known since school and thank people for the support they have given me." Being on the campaign trail means Brown, a keen Raith Rovers fan, won't have time to see the Kirkcaldy team play Dundee United in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden in Glasgow today. He said: "I would love to have been at the match but I have written the Raith Rovers chairman and manager to offer my support. They will be pleased to have their fans all lining up to see them win and I wish I could go.
"It's just one of the penalties you have accept for doing this job."
Itv hosts the first of three 90 minute live leaders' debates on Thursday, from 8.30pm to 10pm.
The theme will be domestic affairs, although it wi l l broaden out into a general discussion with questions from viewers. Alistair Stewart is in the chair and the venue will be in the north west of England. A week later, the second debate will be hosted by Sky's Adam Boulton from the south west of England. The main theme will be foreign affairs. The BBC will host the final televised debate of the campaign. David Dimbleby will be in the chair, between 8.30pm and 10pm on BBC One, at a venue in the Midlands. The main theme will be the economy. There will be separate debates held in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland among all the main parties, which will be broadcast on BBC Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/
