Gordon Brown delivered his ninth Budget to MPs on March 16, 2005.

The chancellor said: "My Budget choice is to lock in stability and never put it at risk; and to strike the right balance between tax cuts that are affordable, investments that are essential and stability that is paramount: at all times putting Britain’s hard working families first."

He also said his budget  was "for Britain’s hard working families and pensioners".

Party Response: Conservative

Michael Howard, Conservative leader, said: "This was a vote now, pay later budget.  Mr Blair would give with one hand before the election, and take back even more with the other, after the election.

"The choice for voters is clear: lower taxes and value for money – with extra funds for schools, hospitals and police - under the Conservatives, or higher taxes and more waste under Mr Blair.

"After eight years of higher taxes and waste, and just 50 days before a general election, Mr Blair claims he’s going to help families and give them value for money. We’ve heard it all before – it’s all talk.

"Mr Blair has a track record of cutting some people’s taxes before a general election and raising them for everyone after it. He did that in 2001. He’ll do it again if he wins again.

"Mr Blair would have to put taxes up again because he’s spending, wasting and borrowing too much. And today his chancellor made the mistake of saying that he’d go on spending more than country can afford if Mr Blair won again."

Party Response: Liberal Democrats

Charles Kennedy, Liberal Democrat leader, said: "We are lucky in this country. Britain has the fourth largest economy in the world. 

"So how can it be right in Britain today that the poorest 20 per cent pay more in tax, as a proportion of their income, than the richest 20 per cent?

"Over the last eight years the chancellor has tinkered an awful lot, but he has failed tackle fundamental unfairness in the system. This Budget is just more of the same.
 
"The tax rise the chancellor didn't mention is council tax revaluation which is due to start on April 1. The Welsh experiment suggests that seven million people in England will pay significantly more after revaluation.

"The government cannot keep on patching up this unfair tax. It is high time that this is replaced by a local tax based on the ability to pay.

"Such a system, as proposed by the Liberal Democrats, will benefit the typical household by over £450 per year."