ALISTAIR DARLING today compared his [pounds]2.7 billion giveaway
to the popular American tax rebate saying it could stave off a
slump.
The Chancellor said he was "worried" about the impact of petrol
and food price rises on family budgets, which risked depressing the
economy.
"When the economy is slowing down, actually putting money into it
will help both individuals and support the economy as a whole," he
said.
The Chancellor said his surprise giveaway denounced by the
opposition as a bribe to buy the Crew and Nantwich by-election was
meant to do more than compensate the 5.3 million who lost money with
the 10p tax band's abolition.
"There is a large section of the population on middle ...