Government will be accused of embarking on a reckless spending programme when MPs debate the Budget today in what is expected to be a lengthy session in the House of Assembly.

The United Bermuda Party will continue its attack on Finance Minister Eugene Cox for raising total spending from $619 million to $683 million and hiking borrowing from $28 million to $50 million.

Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons will lead the UBP assault this morning as the Opposition seeks to portray Government's big-spending Budget as imprudent in the face of a slowdown in the United States economy which could harm Bermuda.

The UBP will continue its theme that the little man is being hammered by tax increases in tobacco, alcohol, fuel and vehicle registration.

MPs on both sides will join the debate when Dr. Gibbons has finished, and Mr.

Cox has the right to reply at the end of the session.

Dr. Gibbons was coy last night about revealing details of his speech, but said: "We will be elaborating on the undisciplined spending that we have seen in the Budget statement.

"In general, most of our members like to speak on the economic debate because the Budget discussion is one of the more important points in the parliamentary year.

"As to how long or how late the debate lasts depends on the level of intensity that gets displayed, but quite a large proportion of our members is planning to speak.'' It is unlikely that any of the other business of the day will be dealt with, and the Budget debate could spill over into the early hours of tomorrow.

Parliament will sit on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next two weeks as MPs debate spending on individual departments.