Dismissing the notion that this is a budget for jobs and recovery, the Penistone MP said,

"It is clear from this budget that it is the ordinary people of this country, including the unemployed and the sick, who will be paying the highest price. This is not the fair budget that the ConDems say it is.

"The raising of VAT to 20% will hit hardest those on the lowest incomes, completely wiping out any gains they may get from the increasing of personal allowances.

"As for jobs and helping the private sector, this ConDem government showed it true colours when it pulled the plug on the £80 million loan to Sheffield Forgemasters. And this budget represents a missed opportunity; we could have had a budget for growth, but instead the ConDems have offered a budget straight from the 1980s and we all know what happened to our area then.

"With a pay freeze for many thousands of public sector workers it is certainly not a budget for hard working families and with £11bn of cuts in welfare it is certainly not a budget for the thousands that will be thrown out of work by this ConDem government.

However, Angela's greatest criticism was targeted at the Liberal Democrats, who have U-turned on their opposition to raising VAT.
"All those who voted for the Lib Dems at the recent general election must now feel totally betrayed. This party has dropped almost every principle it had for the baubles of power. Knowing South Yorkshire people as I do, I don't they will forget this betrayal that easily. People who voted Liberal did not vote for this and do not deserve it."