Budget debate was more empty rhetoric from Labour and Conservatives

This year's budget "lacked new initiatives, failed to make taxes fairer and is dishonest on dealing with the deficit" according to Michael Mullaney, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth.

"We have an election in a few weeks, true" said Michael "But that isn't an excuse for our Government not to lead"

Is this just another example of Labour and the Conservatives putting their own ambition above the good of the country?

"I think it is" Michael responds, "We have an international economic crisis and Labour are playing politics with the budget, refusing to outline real action on the deficit.

"The Conservatives are no better - throwing stones at Labour's empty budget, but refusing to meaningfully identify their own plans to tackle the problems of Britain today.

"It's sad to see the Labour Party behaving so much like the Conservatives" Michael added

"Refusing to trust the electorate to make the right decisions when faced with difficult choices. Everyone understands the need to reduce the deficit. Everyone understands there are areas we are going to have to cut. But both Labour and Tories refusing to say where they will find savings will just confirm in our minds what we've already suspected - that the cuts will be indiscriminate and unfair. That the NHS and our schools will be gutted, that VAT will be raised to 20% by the Conservatives, a tax-increase that will hit the poor hardest. It makes us wonder what they're hiding from us."

Liberal Democrat policy on the other hand is costed and implementable. The Lib Dems would cut unnecessary, high expense projects such as like-for-like replacement of trident and the ID card scheme.

These and other identified cuts would significantly reduce the deficit, while creating money to put thousands of new police officers on the streets, increase investment in Leicestershire's schools by £18 Million and train and hire thousands more midwives.

Michael added "The public believe Vince Cable will make an excellent Lib Dem Chancellor as seen by the positive response he got in the recent Chancellors debate."