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Finance Bill

I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman was here earlier, when the shadow Chief Secretary raised the issue of what was said during the general election. All three parties perhaps ducked the question of whether they would go ahead with an increase in VAT after the election. We all know that when we stand in an election, we do not necessarily want to put unpalatable truths to the electorate. All three Front-Bench spokespersons—the right hon. Member for Edinburgh South West (Mr Darling)—the former Chancellor—the current Chancellor, and my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), who is now the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills—said that VAT increases could not be ruled out. Now, of course, we have the revelation that there was a lively debate within the then Labour Cabinet as to whether a VAT increase should be ruled out.