labourpress:

Chris Leslie MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to reports of the Chancellor’s Mansion House speech, said:

“We need to deal with the deficit, and no-one would disagree with a surplus when economic circumstances allow or that investment is needed if the economy is in a downturn. But rather than giving speeches full of distraction techniques the Chancellor should be focusing on driving up productivity, setting out how he will pay for his multi-billion-pound election pledges and explaining who will bear the burden of the still unexplained cuts planned.

“Sensible reductions in public spending and a balanced approach are needed - but the public need straight answers from the Chancellor now rather than politics.”

Ends