Interest Rates: Budget Will Be Make Or Break For Brown

12.00.00am GMT Thu 6th Mar 2003

Commenting on the decision to leave interest rates unchanged, Matthew Taylor MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, said:

"The interest rate decision will do little to lift the gloom settled over the British economy. The MPC's decision makes it clear that tackling the problem of the two-speed economy is the job of the Chancellor in his April 9 budget."

"All the signs are that Brown will continue to bury his head in the sand. Labour's official ostrich blames the world economic slump for Britain's difficulties but the imbalanced economy is made in Britain."

"It is Brown who taxes unfairly and ties up business in unnecessary regulation."

"It is Brown who has failed to tackle the manufacturing recession."

"It is Brown who has presided over plummeting investment and lagging productivity."

"The Budget will be make or break for Brown's rapidly diminishing reputation. He can't hide behind a war in Iraq. Brown must come out fighting for the British economy or business and the public will never forgive him."