Budget a real disappointment for families in South Lakeland says Farron

Alistair Darlings final Budget before the General Election has been described by local MP Tim Farron as a particularly disappointing for rural communities, which offers no real help for either families or business in South Lakeland.

The Chancellor announced a range of policies including proposals to for a 3p fuel duty rise to be phased in three stages between April and January 2011 rather than in one go next month and proposals for stamp duty to be scrapped for homes below 250,000 for first-time buyers.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"Alistair Darling spoke for almost an hour today, but just about said nothing that will be of any comfort to the thousands of struggling families and businesses in South Lakeland.

Todays budget just goes to show that the Government has no clue about how to tackle the deficit. If we are to create a stable economy and ensure that we do not saddle future generations with debt we must balance the books.

Instead of simply delaying a rise in fuel duty, the Government should have introduced a real cut in fuel duty for rural areas like South Lakeland where a car isnt a luxury but a necessity and where businesses are under real pressure because of rising fuel prices.

The Chancellors stamp duty proposals are well intentioned, but entirely meaningless in South Lakeland where the price of a first time property is way above 250k. This money would have been a lot better spent investing in affordable housing for rural areas.

South Lakeland needed a Budget that gave us honesty in spending and fairness in tax, we have got neither."