Brown's "budget of missed opportunities" - Welsh Lib Dems

8.59.00am GMT Thu 22nd Mar 2007

Ming Cambell has attacked Brown for hitting the poorest hardest

Welsh Liberal Democrats in Cardiff and Penarth have reacted with "anger and disappointment" to today's budget by Gordon Brown, calling it a "budget of missed opportunities".

Ed Bridges, Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate for Cardiff North, said: "I had hoped Gordon Brown would help hard-working low and middle income families - instead he has punished them. Whilst he has tried to capture the headlines with a supposed income tax 'cut', the reality is that anyone earning less than £15,000 a year will pay more tax, not less. Labour have deserted low and middle income earners as the gap between rich and poor grows larger."

The Chancellor's so-called 'green tax' moves have also been described as a 'sham' by local Lib Dems. Assembly candidate for Cardiff West, Alison Goldsworthy, commented: "Gordon Brown had a chance today to prove he is worried by the fate of the environment. Whilst the Lib Dems have welcomed a rise in the road tax charged on the most polluting cars, it simply doesn't go far enough to encourage a serious cut in the UK's carbon emissions. The Chancellor has ignored the question of how to reduce emissions from air travel, and there was not enough in the budget about investing in renewal energy. Gordon Brown has shown he doesn't care about the environment."

Dominic Hannigan, Lib Dem Assembly candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth, raised concerns that for another year running Gordon Brown has ignored the plight of people with disabilities and their carers, saying: "The Lib Dems are looking at ways we can provide this care for free, to reduce the burden on people with disabilities and their families. Gordon Brown has missed an opportunity to move that forward."