Brown: Scratch the surface and they’re still right-wing
By Ian Dunt
Gordon Brown has used a speech attended by the leaders of European countries to make a thinly veiled attack on the Conservatives.
Counterpoising left wing governments with the right, Mr Brown said: “All over the world, the new tactic of the right is to present themselves as moderate and mainstream.
“But when the tough questions are asked of them, the truth is revealed.”
The speech, to the Progressive Governance Conference, was attended by the leaders of Spain, Greece and Norway among others.
While an attack on the right as a general political force, the speech holds clear barbs against the Conservatives.
Mr Brown highlighted the fragility of the Conservative response to the financial crisis.
“Instead of helping a recovery, their hatred of government action would risk the recovery,” he said.
“Instead of defending ordinary families, they would kick the ladder of opportunity away from ordinary families.”
Mr Brown went on to describe the centre-left, and Labour in particular, as the “true internationalists”.
Conservatives’ “obsession with narrow nationalism is totally out of tune with the modern world,” he went on.
“People know that no one country can solve terrorism or conflict or poverty or climate change on their own.
“As long as I remain prime minister, Britain will stay firmly in Europe’s mainstream….and will resist the attempts of the Conservatives to pull Britain into isolation and irrelevance.”
Mr Brown is expected to outline the main themes of his election campaign tomorrow.
