IDS attacks 'broken' tax pledge

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith responded to the Budget speech by accusing Labour of breaking a preelection promise not to raise taxes.

He said: "We already know the Chancellor has broken his major election promise by putting up National Insurance, a tax on income.

"Only 10 months ago, during the election, he and the Prime Minister declared they were not going to raise National Insurance. 'National Insurance is a tax on ordinary families,' the Chancellor said. And he [Mr Brown] decried as 'smears' the charge that they would raise National Insurance. After this, no one will ever believe a word they say."

The Tory leader accused Mr Brown of taking a dogmatic approach to health funding, adding: "He has simply opened people's wallets and closed his mind to change."