PBR 09: Cable attacks "unfair" and "optimistic" pre-Budget report
Lib Dems say recovery's pace is not certain
The government is being unfair and optimistic in its pre-Budget report
according to the Liberal Democrats who believe the economy could be in for more
pain before a recovery gathers pace.
Vince Cable, shadow chancellor, used his pre-Budget response in parliament to
accuse the government of being overly optimistic in its recovery predictions.
“The government is saying ‘Lets assume economic growth’ – Well why?” he said.
He went on to say that the government predictions did not take into account
the potential for another downturn.
He said the government should not rely on predictions, “based on optimism and
very little else”.
He said it was unfair to in crease pay for a manual worker of 1 percent which
would amount to “a real cut” in real terms.
“If there was to be restrain it should be a flat sum across the board, and
that is the heart of the issue of fairness,” he said.
“Unless there is fairness the public will not accept that for the next 5
years or longer there is going to be a long hard slog for this economy. It is a
complete distortion of the priorities that the government should surely have.”