Gordon's Budget Fails to Pass the Test

3.34.44pm GMT Wed 22nd Mar 2006

Today, Gordon Brown delivered his tenth budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer. But with more and more people feeling let down by New Labour, the Liberal Democrats are asking where all the money has gone over the years Labour has been in power.

Tom Brake said, 'There is only one thing that is certain about Gordon's budgets, taxes will rise and red tape will grow like topsy. This budget is no different.'

Despite millions of pounds spent on employment schemes, the sharp rise in unemployment continues in Carshalton and Wallington: 1433 people are without a job in February 2006, a 16 percent increase compared to February 2005.

Unlike Labour and the Tories, the Liberal Democrat Team in Parliament has won a reputation for putting honest choices before spin. The Lib Dems took the lead in exposing the tax credit fiasco and are demanding urgent action to tackle the growing personal debt crisis. At the same time the Lib Dems are calling on the Government to deal with the major threats of climate change by taking effective action to protect our environment.

The Liberal Democrats want an economy that is stable and well managed and based on fairer, not higher, taxes and honest choices.

More information about Liberal Democrat policies on the economy and our response to the Budget can be found at www.libdems.org.uk/economy