Alistair Darling: Don't expect a 'Christmas giveaway' Budget

"Sensible": Alistair Darling promised there will be no free spending in his Budget
12 April 2012

Alistair Darling has warned there will be no pre-election giveaway in the Budget.

The Chancellor made clear that with Britain facing a £178 billion deficit he would have only limited room for manoeuvre on 24 March when he delivers his final financial statement before the country goes to the polls.

"I don't think anyone's expecting some sort of Christmas tree of a Budget. They're not going to get anything like that," he said.

"What you're going to get is a sensible Budget, a Budget for the times in which we live, a Budget for the future of the country."

The Chief Treasury Secretary, Liam Byrne, said the Government would not need any further tax rises beyond the £19 billion announced to meet its commitment to halve the deficit within four years.

A Treasury spokesman insisted there was nothing new in his remarks, which were simply restating the position set out in the pre-Budget report in December.

"These comments are not in any way new. We have set out our deficit reduction plan numerous times over the last year," the spokesman said.

Experts questioned whether the economy would achieve the growth the Treasury needs to restore tax revenues if the target is to be met.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne said the Government had still to set out a clear plan to get the deficit down.

"It sounds to me like the Chief Secretary is not really in command of his figures," he said.

"We haven't heard from Alistair Darling, who's actually the person who's setting out the Budget. And that's the problem with this Government - lots of hints, leaks, gaffes, but not a clear plan to deal with Britain's debt."

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