Cameron's speech confuses talking about the deficit with cutting it, say TaxPayers' Alliance

Responding to the Prime Minister's speech on the nation's finances, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

"These were welcome and encouraging words from the Prime Minister, but he must also be judged on his record and the fact is that he has presided over a shocking escalation of the National Debt over the last five years. Mr Cameron is correct that today's generation must not pass the buck for their mistakes to the next, but by failing to balance the books - as he promised he would - this is exactly what he is doing. Politicians too often confuse speeches with action, and it is incumbent on all of those standing for election not just to talk tough on eliminating the deficit, but also to demonstrate practically how they would do it."

Harry Fairhead, the TPA's Policy Analyst, has run the numbers on the deficit and the debt. His primer on the deficit, borrowing, and the debt can be found here.

TPA spokesmen are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)