Brown Can't Sweep Public Debt Under The Carpet

9.26.00am GMT Fri 12th Nov 2004

Following reports that Gordon Brown is hiding the true cost of PFI liabilities by scrapping the Government's single balance sheet, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Dr Vince Cable MP, said: "The credibility of the Government's economic policy rests on the fact that fiscal targets can be met.

"Once the market starts to worry that public debt is being hidden we get into a scenario where confidence in Government accounts is eroded.

"If the Government is deliberately trying to sweep public sector liabilities under the carpet it must be corrected immediately. Gordon Brown must explain his actions immediately."