Budget Resolutions — Amendment of the Law

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 9:32 pm on 17 April 2002.

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Photo of Boris Johnson Boris Johnson Conservative, Henley 9:32, 17 April 2002

I merely point out that it is ironic that Labour Members should cheer a regressive tax.

Those regressive taxes are expected to go a very long way. The Chancellor said that he would increase public spending from £390 billion to £470 billion in about four years' time. I hope that I heard him correctly. If his growth projections are wrong, someone will pick up a large bill, and I expect that it will be the taxpayer.

It is the judgment of the Chancellor, the hon. Member for Hemsworth and many others who have spoken tonight that the time is now propitious to raise taxes and that the taxpayer is willing—