Bromley Conservatives have suggested that Prime Minister Gordon Brown takes a leaf out of their book as they mark a year of being a debt-free authority.

While the government’s official level of debt is expected to hit £1 trillion by the end of this year, Bromley paid off its last long-term debt a year ago this month.

Ahead of next week’s Executive meeting, where councillors will receive an update on the Council’s finances, Cllr. Neil Reddin, cabinet member for resources, said, “The country is facing a crisis in public finances that hasn’t been seen since the late Seventies, with the IMF at the door and a Prime Minister who refuses to accept the severity of the crisis. In contrast, here in Bromley, we have been debt free for a year – we are not having to use taxpayers money to finance borrowing.

“While Gordon Brown is mortgaging the future, we are investing in it, with a new leisure centre in Biggin Hill, concert hall in Beckenham and library in Orpington.”

 “Perhaps Gordon Brown should take some lessons from Conservative Bromley on how to balance the books.”