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The British people don't like being taken for fools and everybody has now seen through George Osborne's smoke and mirrors - Ed Balls

[labourpress]

The British people don't like being taken for fools and everybody has now seen through George Osborne's smoke and mirrors - Ed Balls

Ed Balls MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to George Osborne’s interview on the Today programme on the EU Budget, said:

"The British people don’t like being taken for fools and everybody has now seen through George Osborne’s smoke and mirrors.

"No other EU Finance Minister or independent commentator has gone along with his attempt to pull the wool over people’s eyes.

"The fact is not a single penny has been saved for the taxpayer compared to two weeks ago.

"The EU Budget Commissioner was very clear last month, in a statement on these backdated revisions, that the UK rebate would apply as normal. The EU Vice-President has also made clear the rebate was never in doubt.

"David Cameron and George Osborne have failed to get a better deal for the British taxpayer and instead of coming clean they’re desperately trying to save some face. Their attempts to fool people have now totally unravelled."