Labour the party of economic stability, says Blair

The Labour Party has begun electioneering in earnest, placing the economy at the heart of its campaign.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said the country faced a fundamental choice “about what kind of country we are, what kind of people we are, what kind of future we see for ourselves."

He added: “Politics is about the lives, living standards and opportunities of the people who elect their Government. How you manage the economy, the decisions you make about spending priorities, these are the decisions that really matter, that can really make a difference in people’s lives."

He said that the Conservatives, traditionally regarded as the party of economic stability, had "made barely a mention of the economy. Their strategy is to avoid debate and discussion on it, avoid the difficult questions that expose the incoherence of their policies. They are committed to tax cuts, spending cuts and massive spending increases – all at the same time, often with the same money.

“If people want a secure economic future, they should support the Labour Party that has shown it can build that economic stability, or the Conservative Party that is a byword for boom and bust."

Chancellor Gordon Brown, praised for personally bringing economic stability, said: “The first and foremost economic responsibility of government is to work with the British people to ensure economic stability.

“And so at this election with Britain facing huge global challenges, the economic decision facing the country is which party can maintain stability, extend prosperity and deliver for hard working families?"

He said the Conservatives had "a past record of being wrong on every major economic decision of the last eight years, and a record of economic failure, of 15 per cent interest rates, negative equity and unemployment."

He added: "They have learned nothing from their mistakes. They are putting before the public a plan for 35 billion pounds of spending cuts that, by undermining investment in transport, education and our infrastructure, would damage our economy.

“So at this election stability, prosperity and interest rates are on the ballot paper.”

(GB/SP)