Brown 'in by-election bunker'

David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of hiding in "his bunker" - instead of going out to Crewe and Nantwich to explain axing the 10p tax band.

Mr Brown told MPs it was a prime ministerial convention not to campaign at by-elections and he had given £2.7bn to help those hit by tax changes.

Mr Cameron taunted him by saying his predecessor as PM, Tony Blair, "led from the front" at by-elections.

It came as all parties made a final push for votes in Thursday's poll.

Labour deputy Harriet Harman, shadow home secretary David Davis and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg are all in the area to support their respective candidates.

'Tax con'

The by-election was sparked by the death of Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, who had held the seat since 1983.

At prime minister's questions in the Commons, Mr Cameron accused Mr Brown of planning another "tax con" by making tax cuts introduced after the 10p U-turn for one year only.

The Tory leader, who has made several visits to Crewe during the by-election campaign, said it was a "huge issue" for voters and asked if the £2.7bn compensation package would be continued next year.

Mr Brown replied: "We've already said that we want to continue to help those affected by the 10p rate and the chancellor will announce that in the Pre-Budget Report."

But Mr Cameron hit back: "This is a one-off, one year only change. The government giving some people some money this September and taking it all back again in April.

"It is just one tax con followed by another."

Mr Brown rejected this, saying the government was giving a tax cut to those who needed it - people on low and middle incomes.

To which Mr Cameron asked why Mr Brown had not had "the courage to explain these points to people on the streets in these towns".

Mr Brown said it was convention that prime ministers did not campaign in by-elections, but Mr Cameron hit back that Mr Blair had done so.

"Instead of leading from the front, haven't you put yourself into your bunker?" he said.

Mr Brown said Mr Cameron wanted people to believe his party helped the poor, yet it had opposed tax credits, the minimum wage and maternity leave.

"You can get by without substance for some of the time, but you will never get by without substance all of the time."

From: BBC News