Wasteful VAT cut is not helping Wales’ poorest - Randerson

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Apr 2009

Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Economy Minister, Jenny Randerson AM has highlighted figures showing that Gordon Brown's wasteful VAT cut is only benefiting the rich.

Savings work out at an average of over £9 per week for the richest households while the poorest households are saving only £3 per week.

Amongst pensioners, things are even worse with the richest saving over £7 per week compared to just £2 for the poorest.

Jenny Randerson said: "These figures will be most unwelcome in Wales where the number of people in poverty is higher than the UK average. The wasteful VAT cut is not making a difference to the people who need help the most.

"What we need is real, permanent tax cuts aimed at the lowest paid, not Labour's gimmicks which are just storing up more debt for the future."