Torbay MP Steve Darling slams Rachel Reeves' budget as 'deeply disappointing'

Torbay MP Steve Darling has described Rachel Reeves' budget as 'deeply disappointing'.

He said any benefits in her budget would be 'swiped out of people's back pockets by stealth tax increases'.

The Liberal Democrat MP's immediate reaction was: "It was deeply disappointing to see the Chancellor choosing once again to tax her way out of the financial situation the Government are in, rather than going for more pro-growth measures.

"A trade deal with Europe, or measures to boost our hospitality industry like cutting VAT, would have been far more positive for people in Torbay.
"There are a few measures we can welcome in the budget that Liberal Democrats have long been calling for, such as helping end child poverty by scrapping the cruel two child limit, or the £150 reduction in people’s energy bills.

"However, any benefits here could be swiped out from people’s back pockets by Reeves’ stealth tax increases, of extending the former Conservative Government’s tax threshold freezes.
"There are obviously many details released in the Budget today, and Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will be going through these measures with a fine-toothed comb. I will be looking to champion Torbay in the Chamber during the budget debates on Monday next week."