Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Gordon Brown accused the European Commission of getting it wrong yesterday after a warning that he should limit public spending to remain within EU economic guidelines.
Interviewed on BBC television, he insisted that he would press ahead with the investment plans which the Labour Party is banking on to see it safely through the next election, expected in early May.
"We believe the Commission has got it wrong," he said. "We will continue with our investment plans. The doubling of investment will happen.
"It will mean more investment in transport, health, education and policing. I will do nothing that will put the economic interests of the United Kingdom at stake."
His comments echoed those earlier at a news conference in Brussels after a meeting of EU economic and finance ministers.
They recommended Britain exercise "firm control of government expenditure" to remain within the guidelines of the EU's Stability and Growth Pact.
Mr Brown told the news conference that Britain intended to "double investment in front-line public services over the next three years."
The row will fuel the claims of British euro sceptics who claim that Brussels is trying to run the British economy, and will do so even more if Britain ever joins the single currency.
