SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY ANGER AT LIB/DEM VAT TRIPPLE WHAMMY.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY ANGER AT LIB/DEM VAT TRIPPLE WHAMMY.

LIB/DEMS £5000 SMALL BUSINESS BLOW.

SNP Westminster Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP has rounded on the Liberal Democrats over an attempt to scrap the temporary VAT cut which came into effect this month.

Mr Hosie said:

”As recession bites, steps to boost consumer confidence and spending are essential, and the Liberals attempts to scrap the VAT cut were simply irresponsible.

“The Liberals actions would be a triple whammy – first putting up VAT, secondly doubling the cost to businesses of dealing with the changes and thirdly, leaving in place the damaging duty increases on fuel and whisky which the Labour Government sneaked through during the pre-Budget Report.”

”The average small business has already incurred a cost of £2,500 to adjust to the new VAT rate – had the Liberals been successful these businesses would have faced a similar sum to change it back again.

”The Liberal Democrats would have directly cost each and every small business around £5,000. This was a ludicrous and irresponsible move by the Liberals in the midst of a recession where every small business is struggling with their finances.

”Every consumer in the country would also have faced an immediate tax increase in the run up to Christmas. The Liberals make Scrooge look like a philanthropist.”