Menzies Campbell comments on Labour's “cross-your-fingers” Budget

3.25.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Apr 2009

Commenting on today’s Budget report by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Senior Liberal Democrat MP Sir Menzies Campbell said: “This is a cross-your-fingers Budget from a Government which knows that economic events are largely out of its control.

“The Chancellor had the opportunity to do something for low and middle income families who have benefited least under this Government and suffered most under this recession. He could have given them all a tax cut of £700 and taken four million of the poorest tax payers out of taxation altogether if only he’d accepted Liberal Democrat proposals.

“By reducing the tax relief on pensions and by reforming capital gains tax he would have had plenty of money with which to target those who need the most help.”