Lib Dem Tory Tax Bomshell hits Swansea  

Remember this image? This was the Liberal Democrat poster used in the General Election campaign, warning against the planned Tory rise in VAT, a move that would hit the poorest in Swansea hardest.

In the Liberal Democrat Tory Budget statement, George Osborne, flanked by Liberal ministers, went ahead and dropped that VAT bombshell on Swansea, putting the rate up to 20% from January 2011.

Geraint Davies Labour MP for Swansea West said

“The Liberals and Tories said they wouldn't increase VAT after the election as it hits the poorest hardest. They were elected on false pretences as now they are massively increasing VAT in the knowledge that it hurts the least well off in Swansea most.

Nick Clegg on 8 April 2010 said "Liberal Democrats have costed in full our proposals for tax cuts. We can tell you, penny for penny, pound for pound, who pays for them. We will not have to raise VAT to deliver our promises. The Conservatives will. Let me repeat that: our plans do not require a rise in VAT. The Tory plans do.

David Cameron said on 1 April 2010 "What we can say is we've set out our plans and our plans involve cutting wasteful spending and stopping the National Insurance rise. Our plans don't involve an increase in VAT."

"The Lib Dems and Tories stood for election on promises they have broken and instead are introducing plans that will hit the poorest in Swansea including pensioners and families hardest." said Gersaint Davies MP

"The Liberal Democrat campaign also said that deep immediate cuts would risk the recovery and pledged that for every £2.50 of cuts £1 should be raised in tax to pay off the deficit. Once in power the Lib Dems now support immediate Tory cuts of £4 for every £1 of extra tax.

"Swansea relies heavily on the public sector will be hit hardest by the deep cuts announced to public spending.

“These big cuts are based upon a big lie: that the public finances are so terrible, that the cuts must be faster and deeper than Labour’s very tough deficit reduction plan to halve borrowing within four years.

"The Lib Dems and Conservatives have been deliberately scaring the public as the pretext for a frenzie of cuts that goes beyond what is needed by the economy. Their underlying objective is to permanently reduce the public sector and the support it provides to those who need it most.

"It's back to the same old Tories with their Lib Dem henchmen making hardworking families pay the price for the reckless mistakes of their friends in Banking and the City."