Clegg responds to Brown and Cameron economic proposals

9.00.00am GMT Wed 7th Jan 2009

Nick Clegg has described Gordon Brown and David Cameron as con-men trying to fool the British public.

He was responding to David Cameron's speech on the economy today, in which he announced plans to scrap taxes paid by basic rate taxpayers' on savings interest and raise the level of non-taxable income for pensioners by £2,000 a year, and to Gordon Brown's interview yesterday, in which he spoke about government plans to bring forward £10bn of spending on public works, digital technology and environmental projects, claiming the programme would create 100,000 jobs.

Nick said that, to be taken seriously, David Cameron would have to identify what cuts he would make in public spending to fund his proposed tax cuts.

Nick Clegg's statement in full

"Gordon Brown and David Cameron are con-men trying to fool the British public.

"First we have an expensive VAT cut that doesn't help people and now the Prime Minister announces he will create 100,000 jobs without any idea of how.

"David Cameron is offering his own fake giveaway. Cutting savings tax will mean someone saving £100 will only get an extra 40p a year.

"If David Cameron is going to be taken seriously he has to identify what cuts he will make. How many fewer police officers will there be on the street and who will have a smaller pension?

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party with a detailed plan on how to put Britain on a green road out of recession. We have set out how we would make big, permanent and fair tax cuts, giving £1,000 in income tax cuts to families on average incomes."