BLACKBURN MP and Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw led the condemnation of yesterday's Budget from East Lancashire MPs.

He said: "The Tories' cheers for this Budget died within 10 seconds of Tony Blair beginning his devastating demolition job. I think that people in Blackburn will not be taken in by the Chancellor.

"People know they have been tricked once and they will not be tricked again.

"Despite Home Secretary Michael Howard's claim of an increase for the law and order Budget, there is in fact a £10 million cut over the next three years."

The only defence came from Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans, who said: "It is a splendid Budget. It was not an irresponsible, bribes Budget. "It was extremely prudent, targetting help where it is needed most on health, law and order and education, at the same time as keeping control of public borrowing.

"The Chancellor has taken a significant step further towards the 20 pence basic rate of income tax.

"There is something for everyone in East Lancashire in this Budget."

But Pendle Labour MP Gordon Prentice said:"It is a totally fraudulent Budget.

"People have already paid out more than £2,120 in extra taxes since John Major became Prime Minister."

He said it was a Budget of mirrors, full of false figures to hide the true cost to ordinary families.

Hyndburn Labour MP Greg Pope said: "This Budget confirms that the people of my constituency have paid more than £2,000 in extra tax since the last election, and one small tax cut cannot undo the damage of the Tories' 22 rises. "This is not an election-winning Budget because you cannot con the people twice."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson said: "This is a last-gasp Budget from a government whose time is up and which can neither be trusted with the future, or make amends for the past.

"Nobody will be fooled by the Chancellor's Budget, which will still leave families worse off because of tax increases since 1992, equivalent to an extra seven pence on income tax, as the Chancellor has admitted.

"We can all do the sums: seven pence up, two pence down leaves people five pence worse off because of higher taxes.

"While giving basic rate tax cuts with one hand, the Chancellor is taking with the other through a higher insurance tax, higher airport tax, higher council taxes, cuts in profit related pay, higher duties and higher charges for basic essentials that will hit ordinary families."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.