Budget cuts 'should be resisted'
Gordon Brown has been urged to listen to the "growing number of voices" speaking out against spending cuts in next week's Budget.
The Prime Minister told MPs that measures to be unveiled by Chancellor Alistair Darling would concentrate on "building a stronger economy" and helping take the country through the recession.
Labour backbencher Colin Burgon (Elmet) called on Mr Brown to ensure the Budget "served the interests of the British people" and not City speculators.
The exchanges in the Commons came as the European Commission said in a report that Treasury efforts to cut the deficit were not ambitious enough and inadequate to comply with EU economic stability rules.
© 2012 Press Association
The Prime Minister told MPs that measures to be unveiled by Chancellor Alistair Darling would concentrate on "building a stronger economy" and helping take the country through the recession.
Labour backbencher Colin Burgon (Elmet) called on Mr Brown to ensure the Budget "served the interests of the British people" and not City speculators.
The exchanges in the Commons came as the European Commission said in a report that Treasury efforts to cut the deficit were not ambitious enough and inadequate to comply with EU economic stability rules.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has said the Budget package he will unveil on March 24 will not spell out new spending cuts and instead focus on measures to encourage economic growth.
At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Burgon asked Mr Brown: "Are you listening to the growing number of voices calling for investment, not cuts, in next week's Budget?
"Do you agree that the Budget should serve not just the speculators in the City of London but should serve the interests of the British people as a whole?"
Mr Brown replied: "The Budget will be about building a stronger economy and taking on the decisions that have taken us through the recession, decisions that in every case - on employment, on mortgages, on small businesses - were rejected by the Conservative Party."
At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Burgon asked Mr Brown: "Are you listening to the growing number of voices calling for investment, not cuts, in next week's Budget?
"Do you agree that the Budget should serve not just the speculators in the City of London but should serve the interests of the British people as a whole?"
Mr Brown replied: "The Budget will be about building a stronger economy and taking on the decisions that have taken us through the recession, decisions that in every case - on employment, on mortgages, on small businesses - were rejected by the Conservative Party."
© 2012 Press Association