Labour's Sticking Plaster Budget

Responding to the government's budget, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Campaigner, Michael Headley said:

"How can it be right in Britain today that the poorest 20% pay more in tax, as a proportion of their income, than the richest 20%? Over the last eight years the Chancellor has tinkered an awful lot, but he has failed to tackle the fundamental unfairness in the system. This budget is just more of the same. There is much more that should have been done to help the residents of Bedford & Kempston."

THE REAL ALTERNATIVE ON PENSIONS

"Under Labour's plans Britain's pensioners continue to receive poverty pensions, 25% below the poverty line - then they make pensioners jump through hoops to get their head above water. We are still in a situation in which 2 in 5 pensioners eligible for Pensions Credit do not claim it. I want to see the introduction of a Citizen's Pension that ends the discrimination against women and ends poverty pensions. It is expensive, but it is a matter of priority - we'd start with the poorest and most vulnerable - those over 75, as a first step to extending it to all pensioners. Our fully costed package would give over 75s a pension rise of over £100 a month. "

THE REAL ALTERNATIVE TO THE COUNCIL TAX:

"The tax rise the Chancellor didn't mention is Council Tax revaluation. The Welsh experience suggests over 7 million people in England will pay significantly more. We'd scrap the Council Tax, and replace it with a fair tax based on the ability to pay. Half would pay less. A quarter would be unaffected. A quarter would pay a bit more. A typical family would be £450 a year better off and half of all pensioners wouldn't pay at all."

THE REAL ALTERNATIVE ON TAXATION:

"At the last General Election Labour promised they wouldn't raise income tax - so they raised National Insurance instead. The Chancellor is reluctant to impose 50% tax rate on 400,000 top earners but happy to see 1.7 million low paid families pay over 60p in tax for every pound earned.

We would abolish top-up and tuition fees and provide free personal care for the elderly - as well as keeping down local taxes. These three measures would be paid for by the introduction of a top rate of tax capped at 50% for every pound earned over £100,000."