Stay Connected
Gemma blasts ‘downgraded’ Chancellor
Local MP Gemma Doyle has said that the Tory-led Government produced a ‘more of the same budget, from a downgraded Chancellor.’
The MP’s comments follow Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget which he set out in the Chamber of the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Commenting outside the Chamber, Gemma Doyle MP said: “This Budget has confirmed that the Tory-led Government has a failing economic plan.
“They’ve missed their own debt target by two years, their growth forecast has halved, and we have the slowest economic recovery for 100 years. And although the Chancellor failed to remind us in his speech, Britain has now lost its AAA credit rating, which he once called the ‘mark of trust.’
“People both in and out of work here in West Dunbartonshire are now facing more pain, rising prices and spending cuts. They are paying much more while millionaires – including the Cabinet – pay less. And at a time when Scotland needs as much support for our businesses as possible, whisky, one of our key export industries, has been hit with a 5.3% increase in duty.
“We needed a radical Budget to kick-start our economy and help those struggling with the rising cost of living. We needed real action to create jobs. But instead of the change we needed, all we got was a more of the same budget, from a downgraded Chancellor. Things are worse, not better, for this country, and people deserve better."