Tory Tax Plans Confused and Incoherent - Cable

12.11.11pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Oct 2006

Responding to the publication of the Conservatives' Forsyth Tax Commission, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said: "This was George Osborne's first real test as Shadow Chancellor and he has failed spectacularly.

"Tory tax plans are confused, incoherent and lacking any credibility. These plans are fiscally irresponsible. They offer £21bn of tax cuts but don't say who will pay for them.

"The Tories claim to be in favour of environmental taxes, but until there is flesh on the bone they will not be taken seriously.

"It is totally unfair that the richest fifth of the population pay less as a percentage of income in tax than the bottom fifth. These plans would make the tax system even more unfair.

"Their rhetoric of compassionate conservatism has been entirely undermined by the reality of their true blue Tory tax cuts for the wealthiest in society."