Brown and Darling accused of panicking

Published on Sunday 25 January 2009 20:59

KENNETH Clarke, the Tories' new shadow business secretary, yesterday accused Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling of "panicking" over the recession.

Mr Clarke said the Prime Minister and Chancellor were rushing out announcements designed to shore up the economy and the banking system "without any proper thought".

He accused the PM of treating voters like fools, and said: "Gordon Brown has made the mistake of having his junior ministers tour the TV studios, trotting out a series of damaging clichs.

"The public are not fools, and they see these soundbites for what they really are: a smokescreen."

The comments came as City minister Lord Myners launched an outspoken attack on the banks for "mismanagement" contributing to the downturn which has tipped the UK into its worst recession since the 1980s.