Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 April 1977.
Why is it that the Chancellor thinks that in introducing his Budget last week he had to increase the petrol tax at 6 o'clock on Tuesday? Why did he not increase the tax on petrol at 6 o'clock tomorrow? That would have avoided the administrative muddle. It is unbecoming of the right hon. Gentleman to say that because there would be an administrative muddle, because of his ineptitude, the Liberal Party should vote with him.