29.11.08 Cllr Miller slams Chancellor's Christmas Bombshell

Following the Pre-Budget Report, Cllr Les Miller has slammed Chancellor Alistair Darling for reckless borrowing, storing up massive tax rises in the next few years.

He commented:

"However Brown and Darling wrap it up, it's still a Christmas tax bombshell.

"Because Gordon Brown thought he had abolished boom and bust, he failed to fix the roof when the sun was shining. Now we are all paying the price. He has left the British economy the least well prepared in the world to deal with the downturn. Now, the Government has made it clear that it is going to add to Britain's borrowing problem with a massive tax con. That will create a long-term borrowing bombshell.

"The residents of Monkseaton are not fools - they can spot the difference between a tax cut and tax con.

"It is quite astounding that Darling does not propose to balance the budget until 2015. The national debt will rise to over £1 trillion.

"We Conservatives argue for spending restraint. We will reduce the growth rate of spending in 2010-11, the first full year of any likely Conservative Government, and for future years, below the levels currently forecast by the Government. So the choice is between tax cons now and tax rises later with Labour, or fiscal responsibility and funded, permanent tax cuts with the Conservatives.''