'January VAT plans under review'
Updated on 24 July 2009
Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman tells Channel 4 News the plan to put VAT back up in January is under constant review and refuses to back claims of a recovery this year.
Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman has expressed doubts about the Treasury forecast that Britain will come out of recession by the end of the year.
She told Krishnan Guru-Murthy "I am not going to predict when the recession is going to end."
On the subject of VAT she was asked:
"At the beginning of next year, January 1, as you know VAT is going to go back up now is there still a discussion about whether January 1 is right date to be putting tax back up given the fragility of the economy at the moment?"
Harriet Harman said:
"Well, you can rest assured that the Chancellor Alistair Darling is keeping absolutely every issue in relation to the public finances and to the impact of tax on businesses and family finances, they keep them under review every day of the week and they will be making further announcements.
"Any announcements that have to be made will be made in the autumn in the pre-budget report."
