RICHARD DRAX, the Conservative MP for South Dorset, has welcomed the ‘tough but fair’ budget announced by the Chancellor, George Osborne.
The budget, which cuts £40 billion of spending by 2014-15 from the previous Government’s plans, aims to balance the country’s books by the end of this Parliament’s life.
Speaking after the Budget, Richard said: “It must be borne in mind that cuts introduced in this budget are entirely the legacy of the previous Labour Government’s reckless spending.
‘I am delighted that nearly 80 per cent of the Chancellor’s savings come from lower spending, rather than higher taxes. We must learn to live within our means – a lesson Labour has never learned.
‘I don’t relish tackling the welfare state but it is costing us an unaffordable £192 billion per year. Reforms to housing and disability benefits were long overdue and targeting tax credits at those most in need must make sense.
‘I welcome the overall thrust of the budget and its move to ignite the wealth creators with lower taxes on business and enterprise.
“Although unfortunately, the VAT increase is regrettable but unavoidable, I breathe a sigh of relief for our pensioners as we link state pensions back to earnings from April next year. This is right and fair.”