BUDGET IS 'GREAT GREEN COP OUT' - BURT

8.12.00pm GMT Wed 12th Mar 2008

Speaking after today's budget announcements, West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt said:

"The Chancellor has missed an opportunity to tackle global warming by producing a 'green tinted' budget that is in fact the great green cop out, designed more to deal with a budget deficit rather than change people's behaviour."

"None of its green tax proposals, Aviation tax, VED tax changes or plastic bag taxes will be implemented before 2009 at the earliest.

"This is the budget when the Chancellor gave up on its 2010 child poverty target. By the Government's own calculations it will be putting only an additional £1bn into combating child poverty, £2.5bn less than is need to meet its target.

"The Winter Fuel increases are a headline grabbing con trick which will only be paid in 2009, despite the fact there no sign of energy prices coming down.

"Rather than using alcohol taxation as a mechanism to change behaviour, they have placed large increases on all forms of alcohol; this is nothing more than a tax grab.

"The only big winner from this budget is the Government; who will be keeping an extra £1.86bn of tax payers' money by 2010 to help balance the books."