Cameron hints at Tory tax cuts

Mr Cameron's comments come amid continuing pressure from within his party for more specific promises on tax than his oft-repeated mantra that he will "share the proceeds of growth" between public services and tax cuts.

Tories are facing a challenge for the position of the leading tax-cutting party from the Liberal Democrats, whose leader, Nick Clegg, will use next week's annual conference to draw attention to his pledge to slash 4p from the basic rate of income tax and cut state spending by £20 billion.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Cameron said his approach of sharing the proceeds of growth would mean the state taking a smaller share of national income in tax over the course of an economic cycle.

He also used the interview to challenge the Labour Party over the position of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, urging them: "Either back the guy or sack the guy." And he aimed a jibe at Mr Brown for his failure to discipline Foreign Secretary David Miliband over a press article in July which was widely seen as an attempt to position himself as a potential successor.

"If my Foreign Secretary behaved like that, I'd sack him," said Mr Cameron.

The Tory leader said his party's election planning committee is already in operation, in case Mr Brown is removed within weeks, sparking a snap election under his successor. Asked about his tax policy, Mr Cameron told the Sunday Telegraph: "It's an approach over an economic cycle and what it means is, at the end of the cycle, the state will be taking a lower share of national income in taxes.

"That is a very significant commitment... I also think it's right for the British people because, I think, as they work hard, as they put their backs into the British economy, when the economy grows over a cycle, they should get some of that back in the form of tax cuts." But he added: "I don't want to promise things I can't deliver."

Yvette Cooper, Labour's Chief Secretary to the Treasury said: "Once again, David Cameron is trying to hide behind hints, nods and winks. "He claims he wants to help people putting their backs into the economy, yet the only real tax pledges we heard from the Tories this week were to give over a billion pounds more a year just to millionaires' estates."

Mr Clegg dismissed Mr Cameron's comments, telling Sky News's Sunday Live: "He has put no figures on it. This is always the problem with the Conservatives - they live in a Mickey Mouse universe where they can say things, but not deliver any specifics. We have been very specific about our tax cuts."