Finance Bill

Debate between Nia Griffith and Lord Hanson of Flint

Tuesday 28th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Nia Griffith]

Absolutely. I shall say more about that shortly.

[Mr Hanson]

My hon. Friend, like myself, is a Welsh Member of Parliament. May I draw her attention to a press release last year entitled “Welsh Lib Dem MPs want VAT rise impact to be assessed”. The hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Roger Williams) said:

“we are worried about the proposed increase in VAT. … We need to carry out this work so that we can lessen the impact of any increase in VAT.”

The hon. Gentleman said that they were

“particularly concerned about the impact on the voluntary sector”

and on hard-pressed rural areas.

[Nia Griffith]

That is an extraordinary statement, especially as I can remember the most surreal experience of being in a studio in Cardiff and the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Roger Williams) popping up on a screen from some distant place to defend the increase in VAT. So what is the position of the Liberal Democrats? I really do not know. One minute they say one thing about an assessment, the next minute they pop up on a screen defending to the hilt every statement in the Budget last June. I do not know what the position of Welsh Liberal Democrat Members is.