People will see through Labour's Budget Bribes says Chris Coleman

12.10.54am GMT Fri 18th Mar 2005

Chris Coleman, the Prospective Liberal Democrat MP for the Forest of Dean, has criticised the Labour Chancellor's budget as little more than a set of election bribes aimed at repairing the damage Labour has done to its traditional supporters.

"I think people will see through this budget for what it is - a series of bribes aimed at winning the election" said Chris. "If the Government was serious about tackling inequality and long term poverty, and if it was serious about creating a fairer tax system, then it could have done far more to address these issues."

The New Labour plans for pensioners are only a short-term fix - what is needed is fundamental change. The Lib Dem policy of scrapping the Council Tax and providing an extra £100 a month to all pensioners over 75 is a real alternative to New Labour's short term tinkering.

Three things the Lib Dems have welcomed in the Budget:

• Free local bus travel for pensioners. This was already part of Lib Dem policy.

• Increasing the stamp duty threshold - although not by enough. The Lib Dems are proposing extending it to £150,000.

• Help for pensioners in general, but we see the New Labour plans as something of a sticking plaster rather than seriously addressing pensioner poverty.

Five things missing from the Budget, which the Lib Dems are proposing are:

• Scrapping student fees.

• Scrapping charges for long-term personal care for the elderly.

• Axing Council Tax and replacing it with fair local income tax.

• Boost the state pension for over-75s by over £100 a month for single pensioners and over £140 a month for pensioner couples.

• Providing 10,000 more police, paid for by scrapping ID cards plan.