The Great Budget Bribe

Never would I have believed I would see a budget painted as a give away that actually raised more tax than it gave back.

This Government has still not learnt when to stop spinning and painting one picture when the reality is different.

£200 Council Tax rebate for households over 65 - well yes but only for one year, the year when an election is due. Totally outrageous but I think it will backfire because voters are not stupid.

Free bus transport for over 65's - Yes, but only after we have had legislation and even then it will only be off peak travel. In itself fine but why not tell it straight instead of just spinning something different?

And then the plain lies.... Labour say "Tory Cuts". The Conservatives are not proposing £35 billion of cuts because we intend spending to rise in education and health. In any case Labour has a damn cheek because £22bn of the savings are the savings they identified in the Gershon review!! What we have said is that spending should rise less fast than it would under the tax and spend Labour Government.

Of course the Lib Dems are silent in this debate because it is their policy to have higher overall taxation and spend even more that either us or Labour. In fact the taxation difference between Conservative and Lib Dems is £8bn. We would cut taxes by £4bn but they would increase taxes by £4bn