Published: 28/03/2010 07:00 -
Updated: 27/03/2010 16:58
David Cameron this week branded Bedford MP Patrick Hall a ‘liar’ after he sent leaflets suggesting the Tories would axe their free bus travel.
The Conservative Party leader said Labour candidates were hoping to frighten people into voting for them by spreading ‘utter lies’ about phantom Tory ‘cuts’.
He said: “They really are appalling people. The sooner they are out of the Government of this country, the better.
“Those things, by Labour, are quite simply lies. I don’t use the word lie very often, but I’m using it today because they are lies.
“In January David Cameron said that the country faces a decade of austerity, and in February Ken Clarke said that Conservatives would cut deeper than any Government since 1945.
“Mr Cameron promised an emergency budget within 50 days of winning.
“ I fear that a lot more than the bus pass would not survive such an irresponsible approach.”
David Cameron
In around 40,000 election campaign leaflets, Mr Hall said: ‘The Conservatives talk of severe cutbacks and say the country has run out of money. Do you think your free bus travel would be safe in their hands?’
But at a news conference on Wednesday, Mr Cameron – who did not directly name any Labour MPs – insisted there were no Tory plans to axe fuel payments, free bus passes or free television licences.
He said: “They really are appalling people. The sooner they are out of the Government of this country, the better.
“All those things that Labour are saying are complete and utter lies.”
In an appeal to ‘any pensioner who is watching this or reading any of these reports’, Mr Cameron added: “I know you are getting letters from the Labour Party that say the Conservatives would cut the winter fuel allowance, would cut the free bus travel, would cut the free television licence.
“Those things, by Labour, are quite simply lies. I don’t use the word lie very often, but I’m using it today because they are lies.
“We’d keep these things. Do not be frightened by a Government that is trying to scare you into not opting for change.”
Conservative Bedford candidate Richard Fuller said: “Patrick Hall’s claims are simply untrue; he should spend more time focussing on what he would do for the people of Bedford and Kempston and less time frightening people with lies about Tory policy.”
Mr Hall said: “In October George Osbourne said that the country had run out of money.
“In January David Cameron said that the country faces a decade of austerity, and in February Ken Clarke said that Conservatives would cut deeper than any Government since 1945.
“Mr Cameron promised an emergency budget within 50 days of winning.
“ I fear that a lot more than the bus pass would not survive such an irresponsible approach.”
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