Vince Cable reaction to PBR in full

In response to Chancellor Alistair Darling's pre-Budget report, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable told MPs that VAT cuts would not be enough to boost consumer spending.

"It would be much more sensible to put money directly in the pockets of low paid workers by cutting their income tax," he argued.

Mr Cable also said that the Conservatives "don't acknowledge" the current crisis while the government's "rhetoric is not matched by action".