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Tories could keep new 50p tax rate, admits Osborne
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent22.04.09
A Tory government may not reverse the new 50p tax, shadow chancellor George Osborne decreed tonight.
It would “not be a high priority”, he said, adding that the interests of working people on £19,000 or £20,000 were more important.
Mr Osborne and David Cameron were keen to avoid the beartrap laid by Chancellor Alistair Darling, who hoped the Tories would denounce the measure and be tarred as the party of the rich.
The shadow chancellor instead focused his attack on the fine print of what he called “a dishonest Budget”.
He said the interest alone on state debt was now costing £43 billion — more than is spent on schools — and each baby would be born owing £22,500.
Borrowing Tony Blair's old campaign slogan, Mr Osborne said Mr Darling's tax rises would hit “the many, not the few” because of increases on petrol and National Insurance.
Mr Cameron earlier accused the Government of failing to get public spending under control and warned that the British people would not forgive Labour for the economic crisis. Warning that future generations would be condemned to paying off the huge public debts, he said: “This is not boom and bust — this is the worst boom and bust ever.”
He accused Mr Brown's administration of being a “government of the living dead”.
He added: “Today everyone can see what an utter mess this Government and this Labour Prime Minister have made of the British economy.
“The fastest increase in unemployment in our history, the worst recession since World War II and the worst peacetime public finances ever. Any claim they have ever made to economic competence is today dead, over, finished.”
Mr Cameron described the borrowing figures announced by Mr Darling as a “staggering amount”.
“The price will be paid not by the incompetent ministers who got us into this mess but by families and businesses up and down the country,” he said. “Britain can't afford another five years of Labour. What the country needs is change.”
He derided Mr Darling for blaming Britain's economic woes on the global recession. “Of course other countries are suffering but there is not one single other major country in the world in a position as bad as the UK,” he said. “We have the biggest budget deficit of any major economy.”
Accusing the Prime Minister of failing to be prudent during the boom years, he said: “They did not fix the roof when the sun was shining.”
The Tory leader, who has challenged Mr Brown to hold a 4 June general election, said the PM had wasted money on initiatives such as the temporary 2.5 per cent cut in VAT, and was now facing “the day of reckoning”.
Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg accused the Government of leaving Britain facing “years of unemployment and decades of debt”. He said: “This Budget is a political supermarket sweep, a trolley full of random promises, but without even a hint of a plan or any likelihood the promises will be put into practice.
“Today we got a mish-mash of recycled announcements from a government skilled in raising people's hopes but incompetent in actually delivering help. Labour is out of ideas, and out of steam. Today they have condemned us to years of unemployment and decades of debt.”
Reader views (25)
Quite right, there is something wrong with an Economic system where someone earning £30,000 per annum pays the same amount as tax as someone earning £300,000 per annum.
- Kevin, Sheffield
So we would vote Tory why, exactly...............................?
- Archie, Thrapston, England
I hope that only people that voted Labour in the last election are made redundant. You are responsible for this fiasco - I hope you are proud and poor.
- Mike Jones, London
All those saying the world wide economy was the cause ire correct. But to those same people I would say, " Brown and his Motley crew took their EYES of the ball. They were living in the we have kicked the boom and bust bubble away for good.
Their own financial people were saying please watch out the world is heading the wrong way financially. What did Brown do he ignored the warnings and carried on. And oh my goodness when Darling came in as chancellor, Brown
at him " Dont change my path I have set this country on"
Oh yes it was Brown's fault for not watching the world s financial activities and listening. So dont just put your head in the sand, by saying poor old Brown did not see it comming. Have you got the point now. He thinks he knows best. And he dont.
- Ebin Donk, angus scotland
The highest paid have increased the gap between their salaries and the rest of us over the last twenty years and have also benefitted from the 1987 lowering of the upper rate from 60 to 40 percent. As they've had such a wonderful time in Camoron's words they will have been saving money in the good times to help themselves through the bad times. Now they have a chance to make a contribution to the good of the country instead of avoiding paying their fair share. There used to be a saying that those with the broadest shoulders should contribute more. In modern times they just whinge and try to evade Taxes. The Press seems to encourage this behavior and treats tax evasion as a noble gesture.
- A Rick, Ruislip England
He may not make a brilliant Prime Minister; because he has dangerous tendencies; like riding his bicycle without his head protection on; if Boris runs a red light; David could well get brain damage; if he has one.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Proof if it were needed, that we live in a one-party state.
- Neil, London, London UK
All Labour governments have left the country's finances in a dire state. It is their raison d'etre (Keith, that's French by the way).
- Jb, London
I really am concerned about Osborne.
It was unnecessary to make any comment on the 50p tax but Big Mouth made one. That and his Big Foot still leaves lots more room for error.
His comment does not help the Conservatives politically.
- Minnie, London, UK
Great speech by DC, really nailed Broon who could do nothing but sit their grinning like a buffoon!
- St, London
The Toties have actually got pland to raise to 60 per cent but they don't want to admit this just yet
- Keith Price, Luton, England
All well for Cameron to blow hot air, but what has he got to offer??? Everyone moans that this government has totally ruined the country, but I have yet to hear any alternative proposals to get this country on the road to recovery again. No one in any of the other parties has a clue on where to start!!
- Dom, London
Financial ruin under the current Government Junta seems certain. However, their 2-week waste collection fiasco, which is the main topic of my latest book, Dirty Politics, may bring even more dangers. Rat population in the UK is booming, according to pest experts, since the hated 2-week collections rolled in and with it the threat of killer disease to our families and communities. Will it take a good dose of Black Death or similar before Mr Brown and his smug cronies get the message? Pat Regan: author of Dirty Politics.
- Pat Regan, southport
Val Daniels and keith Price you are both so funny ! Every time someone posts a criticism and/or a truth about Brown and New Labour incompetence you jump to toe the party line. Please wake up and open your eyes, they are both disasters and everyone can see this. Why can't you two ?
- Michael, London
You are correct Val Daniels, when you say that if the banks had not been propped up everyone would have lost their money; but who would have lost the most money; the rich or the poor; the worker or the politician etc.
Brown did save his own money that is for sure; and probably yours as well; but he never saved mine; yet I have to help pay the bill for the both of you.
In future; put your money under the floorboards; it will be safer there.
- Mickyinlondon, london
This Government has the weirdest attitude. Pay M.P.s extra to actually go to work when we all thought that was the purpose of their basic salary anyway. Get yourself deeper in debt by borrowing more and more to get yourself out of debt. Go and spend, spend, spend in the shops and don't sensibly save for emergencies. Save for your old age just so the Government has a golden pot to raid. Weird, absolutely weird!
- Janet, London, UK
Broooon has only delayed the debt for the conservatives to sort out. Labour should be arrested for criminal neglect of our economy and for deliberately fragmenting our society for short-term advantage and long-term chaos.
- Jamal Akhbar, Edinburgh
Cameron as usual talking through his behind. Labour didn't create the mess but the Tory friends and wealthy called the fat cats of the banks, did. G. Brown and Co are not in control in the US where it also happened.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
Dump UK can only be saved by a General Election - but the problem is getting our unelected Prime Minister to call one.
We may bandy figures about 24/7, until we are all dizzy with the thing - so, come on you media, get screaming for the big poll that will send this haggis muncher back to bonny Scotland.
- Ted, London
As it is a worldwide economic mess. it is hardly this Governments fault, so Cameron is wasting his words again
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Are you completely mad? If you had money in any of the banks that defaulted, either in a current or a deposit account, and the government had not stepped in to support them, do you think you would still have had that money. No, of course you wouldn't. It's because the government stepped in and guaranteed that nobody with money in the banks would lose it that all those people with bank accounts have still got their money. If the banks had folded, all our money would have gone with them.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Spot on DC.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
Cameron is right in this statement. Browns so-called prudence polices only worked whilst he could ‘Rob Peter to Pay Paul’ his currant economic strategies are all based on acting like a ‘Crazy Gambler’ who has lost all, and is now borrowing at huge cost to us all in the UK.
A wave of financial destruction is heading our way and he Brown, can’t see it as he doesn’t even want to, as he’s dead and finished Politically and he knows it.
He should have let the Banks stand on their own feet, as you either succeed or you fall in business.
Carl Barrron, Chairman of agpcuk.
- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset
He's not wrong there!
- Steve, London
Here, here.
- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London UK
