Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has warned that British people will be made to pay for decisions Chancellor John Healey is too frightened to take, ahead of the Budget announcement.
Writing in the Daily Express, Badenoch said businesses need confidence and room to grow, families should keep more of what they earn, and the armed forces must know the money will be there when they need it.
Labour accused of avoiding tough decisions
Badenoch criticised the Government for what she described as a lack of tough decision-making on welfare reform, saying ministers "bottle it" whenever reform becomes politically uncomfortable.
She accused the Prime Minister of wanting to say yes to everyone in his party, adding that taxpayers cannot afford to pay for it.
"He goes on and on about making tough decisions, but where are they?" Badenoch wrote.
National debt and borrowing concerns
The Conservative leader highlighted that national debt has reached £3 trillion, with more spent servicing it than on schools, the Army and the police combined.
She said Labour keeps borrowing more in the country's name, spending the money and leaving taxpayers with the bill.
Badenoch also referenced comments by Welfare Secretary Pat McFadden, who complained that meetings with Labour MPs were about "who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others".
Conservatives propose savings
Badenoch said Conservatives have identified more than £70 billion in savings, with at least half going towards reducing the deficit.
She urged Healey to tackle welfare spending and find the money for defence now, rather than at the delayed spending review.
"He can choose to face down his backbenchers instead of coming after your pay packet," she wrote. "Today, we will discover whose interests he puts first."
