Darling fails to make the right choices for the North east's economy (BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats)

BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats <info@banffandbuchanlibdems.org.uk>

Darling fails to make the right choices for the North east's economy

March 24, 2010 12:00 AM
Originally published by The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

Commenting on today's Budget statement Malcolm Bruce the MP for Gordon and former Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor said:

"The Chancellor made a great deal of the 'choices' that the Government has made in his speech today. Yet I am interested in the choices he avoided. He could have outlined a clear and credible plan to tackle the government deficit but he chose not to instead deferring any decision about where Labour's inevitable spending cuts will fall.

"Instead of recognising the disproportionate burden that is already placed on rural areas, Mr Darling has proceeded with the big fuel duty rise which will adversely affect North East families who rely on the car as the only sufficient means of transport and are already trying to cope with rising fuel prices.

"He could have chosen to make the tax system fairer and redistribute the tax burden by closing those tax loopholes and reliefs currently enjoyed by the highest earners. By doing this he could have chosen to increase the threshold at which people start paying income tax to £10,000 alleviating the situation of millions of low-income families but again he chose not to."

Speaking about support for businesses and the local economy, he added:

"The increase of Business rate relief for England now puts pressure on the SNP Scottish Government to follow suit to cut business rates and offer a transition for rate revaluation to Scottish businesses. A lot of businesses in Gordon are set to be disproportionately hit by revaluation, if the economy is to grow in North East, we need to ensure our small businesses are not clobbered with increased rates compared to their English competitors.

"The Chancellor promised 95% coverage of superfast broadband by 2017. Although most people will have to wait seven years remote rural areas including parts of Aberdeenshire are likely to remain "not-spots". The Chancellor failed to provide an answer on how these areas including householders and business start-ups alike will be provided for.

"Rather than forcing the nationalised banks to lend to solvent British businesses the Chancellor has chosen to dodge Government responsibility by creating a feeble quango to arbitrate between bullying banks and their small business clients."

ENDS