Budget 2009 Video: Osborne: Darling is increasing 'tax on many not few'

Wednesday, 22 April 2009 08:52

Alistair Darling is taxing "the many not the few", claimed the Conservative shadow chancellor tonight.

In a YouTube video, George Osborne hit out at the chancellor's growth forecast, highlighting more pessimistic estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The IMF predicts the UK economy will shrink by 4.1 per cent in 2009 and by 0.4 per cent in 2010.

In the Budget, Mr Darling forecast a 3.5 per cent contraction for this year, with "growth to resume towards the end of the year". For 2010 he predicted growth of 1.25 per cent.

Mr Osborne stated if the government is wrong, then borrowing figures will be "even worse".

He also hit out at the chancellor for taking the headlines for taxing high income earners, when fuel and alcohol duties will hit the majority of earners along with the increase in National Insurance contributions.

Yvette Cooper, chief secretary to the Treasury, also today issued a YouTube video stating the Budget is aimed at creating more jobs.

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