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"With this budget the Government were trying to have their cake and eat it too – bringing forward measures that promise much but mean little and do nothing to address some of the fundamental economic problems affecting people in Solihull today.
”The Chancellor made a great deal of the ‘choices’ that the Government has made in his speech today.
“Yet I am interested in the choices he avoided. He could have outlined a clear and credible plan to tackle the government deficit but he chose not to.
”While we need to ensure cuts are not made too quickly and the support for business needs to remain, I was hoping there would at least be a longer term plan to cut down the deficit.
“The Tory’s promise of an emergency budget within 50 days but without giving any indication of what they are going to cut it is deeply concerning.
“I am also particularly concerned about the failure to eliminate the planned 3p rise in fuel duty.
“Phasing it in over ten months will do nothing to help Silhillians who are still paying the highest petrol prices in living memory.
“Furthermore above inflation rises in beer and wine duty will do nothing to comfort the casual pub goer who has already seen the price of a pint rise enormously in the past few years. All this while the British pub is under attack.
“However, the strong duty rise in alcopops and strong cider does seem reasonable in view of the amount of anti-social behaviour which it fuels.”
