Budget overshadowed by Brexit threat, Carmichael argues

This week’s budget lacks long-term credibility – overshadowed by the prospect of a “no deal Brexit”.

That is the view of Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael who said the economic plan could be thrown out and replaced with an emergency budget as soon as April.

Speaking after Monday’s budget statement from chancellor Philip Hammond Mr Carmichael said: “The budget contained some good things for which I had previously called. A freeze on fuel duty and on Scotch whisky is good news for the Scottish economy and will be welcomed in the Northern Isles, but the reality is this budget is more of a holding pattern that a credible long-term economic plan.

“The chancellor said it himself that a hard Brexit is likely to force the government to radically rethink their spending commitments, meaning that if the Tory backbenchers and Labour frontbenchers get their way, we will end up with an emergency budget in the spring.

“The government must work harder to protect the economy from the devastating effects of a hard Brexit.”

ONE COMMENT

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  • David Spence

    • December 26th, 2018 14:28

    How much will it cost the government (tax payer) to re-negotiate a trade deal with 26 countries, not including any other trade deals outwith the EU, and who, politically, will benefit from these deals?

    How much trade will it benefit UK industries and UK manufacturing (what there is of it, ironically destroyed by the Conservatives) if such deals go ahead?

    Will the average cost of living increase as a consequence of such trading deals?

    Brexit, seems to be a course of circumstances which will, more than likely, benefit the Tories rather than UK industry and manufacturing, and also, at the same time, prop up US private companies????

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