Labour slammed over petrol and beer tax rises - Mark Alcock

11.28.00pm GMT Mon 24th Nov 2008

Oldham West & Royton Lib Dems have slammed the Pre-Budget Report for giving with one hand and taking with the other.

Labour's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, has announced a cut in VAT from 17.5% to 15%, but has also increased duty on petrol, alcohol and cigarettes.

Mark Alcock, Oldham West & Royton Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson, said, "We all know that we need to get more people onto public transport, but putting petrol prices up at a time of recession is madness - its one of the quickest ways to take money out of people's pockets.

"Combine this with an increase in duty on tobacco and alcohol and it becomes clear that Labour are giving with one hand and taking with the other.

"Pubs are already struggling with five a week closing and this kind of tax rise will only add to their misery and potentially put even more out of business, making the economic situation even worse.

"Liberal Democrat plans to permanently reduce the basic rate of income tax from 20% to 16% would save an average earner many hundreds of pounds a year, helping people in tough times and helping the economy to recover.

"Whereas Labour are just tinkering around the edges: I am worried that it will simply not be enough to help hard-working people in their day to day lives, and the to help national economy as a whole" said Mark Alcock.