LONDON (AFP) — Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Thursday dismissed sharp German criticism of British policy on handling the financial crisis as being the result of "internal German politics."
Responding to remarks by German Finance Minister Peer Steinbruck that Britain's switch from financial prudence to heavy borrowing to fund a stimulus package was "breathtaking" and "crass Keynesianism," Brown insisted that Germany was also investing heavily in its economy and carrying out policies similar to London's.
"The German government is investing more, they've just announced a fiscal expansion so that they can invest in public works, and helping their banks and doing these sort of things," Brown told LBC radio.
"I don't really want to get involved in what is clearly internal German politics here because they're a coalition in Germany with different political parties.
"I think the important thing is almost every country around the world is doing what we have been doing," in terms of supporting ailing banks and providing fiscal stimulus, the prime minister said.
Steinbruck's comments were highly unusual given that they were so publicly critical of an ally's policies and are likely to add to tensions between Britain and Germany on the eve of a European Union summit on tackling the crisis.
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