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A Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman has said the chancellor is making the Budget statement as late as possible in a bid to demonstrate that some of the government's financial crisis measures are working.
Colin Breed (Lib Dem, South East Cornwall) said that he did not expect "significant future plans" to be outlined by Alistair Darling on Wednesday.
Instead, he suggested that long term financial stability is of "less importance than short term political survival" for the government.
And green measures intended to raise revenue are more to do with "filling the ever-growing black hole" than environmental protection, Breed stated.
Commenting ahead of the 2009 Budget, the Lib Dem MP, who is also a member of the Treasury select committee, called on the chancellor to introduce measures to prevent unemployment from rising further this year.
He also urged Darling to introduce further assistance to homeowners and small businesses.
A priority for the next financial year must be reducing housing repossessions, Breed said.
"Putting effort in here will more likely create better conditions for the long awaited 'green shoots'," he stated.
"Whatever happens, the next administration will have to tackle the medium-long term issues of servicing and reducing the enormous public debt which will have been created."
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd