Osborne Says U.K. Budget Will Offer ‘No Giveaways’

U.K. Chancellor George Osborne said Wednesday’s budget will offer “no giveaways” and difficult decisions will still have to be made, as he seeks to drum up support for his Conservative Party before May’s election.  “This budget is all about securing a truly national recovery,” Osborne told the BBC’s “Andrew Marr” program on Sunday. “No giveaways, no gimmicks, a budget for the long term.”

Osborne will use his final budget before the May 7 vote to try to convince voters the Tories are best placed to run Britain’s economy, while rebuffing accusations from the Labour opposition, led by Ed Miliband, that his party only privileges the wealthiest. With polls showing the Tories and Labour neck and neck, and both short of enough seats to gain a majority in the House of Commons, speculation about possible coalition deals is mounting.

Asked about U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage’s offer to support the Tories if they agree to hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union this year, Osborne said it was “total nonsense,” though he stopped short of ruling out a deal altogether.

Bloomberg

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