"Budget shows the Government will fail on the environment and child poverty" - Farron

11.14.48am GMT Thu 13th Mar 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has blasted Chancellor Alistair Darling's first Budget, delivered this afternoon, as a cop out on green issues, and an admission that the Government would fail to meet its own targets on child poverty. The Chancellor failed to adequately address the problem of climate change, using green taxes only to take money out of the pockets of the lowest earners.

The Chancellor also only committed another £1bn to combating child poverty, well short of the £2.5bn required, as well as delaying increases in winter fuel payments until 2009 despite energy prices continuing to rise.

There was also no announcement on eliminating Vehicle Excise Duty for Mountain Rescue vehicles, which Mr Farron has been campaigning for.

Speaking after the Chancellor's statement, Tim Farron said:

"Yet again the Government has failed to address the key issues. Millions of hard working families are seriously out of pocket because of unfair taxes and sky-rocketing energy prices.

"The really big winner from this Budget is the Government itself, by 2010 they will be keeping an extra £1.86bn for themselves. This is a budget which gives only limited help to the poor, but maintains special treatment for the rich, it is totally unacceptable."