Budget A Let-down For Local Councils And Students

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 9th Apr 2003

Lib Dems would have cut Council Tax bills by £100

Commenting on today's Budget, David Rendel MP said:

"Why didn't the Chancellor cut Council Tax by £100 for every household? Liberal Democrats showed that this was possible in our Alternative Budget. But hard-pressed local councils are being denied the cash.

"The Government has also failed to follow the lead of Liberal Democrats in Scotland who have abolished tuition fees. Instead, students in England will face even higher debts because of the Government's plans for top-up fees.

"The money for humanitarian aid in Iraq is very welcome. But it amounts to only a fraction of the amount being spent on the bombing campaign. I hope that future budgets will make the elimination of world poverty a much higher priority."