Taxation — 10 Mar 1998

I beg to move,

That this House deplores the fact that the Government broke its pledge not to raise taxes by raising 17 taxes in its first Budget; notes that, although the full impact of many of these taxes, such as the Pensions Tax and higher business taxes, was not immediately apparent to the public, these taxes will undermine Britain's economic success and people's retirement incomes in the long term; and urges the Government not to introduce any further hidden taxes in the forthcoming Budget.

If the Chief Secretary wishes to dissociate himself from the Prime Minister, he should have done so before the election, not afterwards.

I beg to move, To leave out from "House" to the end of the Question, and to add instead thereof:

"commends the Government for honouring its election promises not to increase the top or basic rate of income tax, to reduce VAT on domestic fuel to five per cent. and to introduce the levy on the windfall profits of the privatised utilities; approves the Government's determination to put in place a fair tax system, to encourage investment and long-term sustainable growth; believes that Britain's interests lie in the pursuit of sound economic policies that will benefit the many and not just the few, and which are in the long-term interests of the whole country; and urges the Government to reject any return to the boom and bust policies of the past which resulted in the 22 tax rises imposed by the previous administration.".

Those were words spoken by Ministers in the Labour Government. We should draw attention to that fact because they have broken their promises.

Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question:--

The House divided: Ayes 174, Noes 298.

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