Autumn Statement

Dennis Skinner Excerpts

Wednesday 5th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

My hon. Friend reminds us that we get a daily verdict on the credibility of our economic policy from bond investors. We are borrowing money more cheaply than anyone who has done my job before us, and there is a real benefit for taxpayers and members of the public in that. We have saved £33 billion in debt interest that we were forecast to have to pay in 2010, which, as I said in my statement, is more than the entire defence budget.

[Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab)]

When the cheering has died down on the Budget statement, it will be just as it was on previous occasions, such as in 2010, when the Chancellor made his first statement. When it was stripped bare, it was a totally different story. In 2010, he promised massively to cut the deficit; but here we are, two and a half years later, and he has cut the nurses and the national health service. This posh boy never changes. Now, instead of being a Bullingdon boy who wrecks the hotel rooms, as Chancellor of the Exchequer he wrecks the economy. It is time he went.

[Mr Osborne]

I am not sure that that personal attack warrants a proper reply.