Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:58 pm on 16 March 1983.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Richard Wainwright Mr Richard Wainwright , Colne Valley 4:58, 16 March 1983

I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving me a first-class opportunity to show how hollow the Chief Secretary's foolish claim was just now that the alliance had become part of a Socialist opposition. In no way do I agree with anything that the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) has just said.

The sad fact is that, although we in this House did not expect the Government to change course, many people outside hoped against hope that their jobs would come back again, their companies would be rescued, and their prospects would be improved as a result of a change of heart in the Budget. That has not happened. There is no engine of recovery here. There is just a rather timid bid for votes.