Bruce reaction to Pre-Budget statement

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 6th Dec 2006

The red box comes out for another 'pre'-budget day

Commenting on the Pre-Budget Statement delivered by the Chancellor Gordon Brown to the House of Commons on Wednesday Gordon Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce said:

"The Pre-Budget statement is supposed to be a statement on the background policy in the lead up to the Chancellor's Budget in March. But call a spade a spade: in reality the PBR has become a second Budget with some taxes coming into force immediately."

On North Sea oil and gas he commented:

"The Government must recognise the need to encourage forward exploration and appraisal to maximise long-term returns from the North Sea."

Commenting on the so-called 'green taxes' he added:

"If radical green taxes are to get both public and cross-party support they need to be off-set with tax cuts. The Chancellor's subterfuge in using them simply as a vehicle with which to raise more revenue, without putting it to good use in cutting income tax for the poorest households discredits the whole green agenda. What we need is greener and fairer taxes, not higher taxes."

On fuel poverty, Mr Bruce said:

"I am also angry and disheartened that there was no announcement of any extra assistance towards winter fuel costs for those who are most vulnerable, such as pensioners, who will be struggling to meet the rising costs of fuel this winter."