The gloves are off. After a month of cordial campaigning, John Abbott accused John Hogan, his sole opponent in the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal leadership race, of proposing "nothing new" in his bid to lead the party — and become premier.

"I would use the word safe," said Abbott when asked to describe his adversary's policy commitments on Thursday.

"There's nothing new or expansive in the platform," added the St. John's East–Quidi Vidi MHA, who made the comments the day after the final debat…