Comment on the Budget

2.51.38pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 17th Mar 2004

Do Gordon Brown's sums add-up?

Commenting on the Chancellor's budget, Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne, a member of the Lib Dems' Treasury team as the European economic spokesman, said:

'The real problem with this budget is what it leaves out. The unfairness of the tax system has been left untouched, particularly the unfairest tax of all, the Council tax.

'Sir Humphrey and his mandarins need a sharp kick, starting with the Treasury itself. But there is a complete lack of ambition about cost-cutting and moving civil servants out of London.

'The budget leaves the economy seriously unbalanced. Our parents' generation had savings books, but we have credit cards. But the never never eventually becomes today' said Mr Huhne.

Ends