Yesterday George Osborne claimed that the VAT rise was “unavoidable”.

But last year the Conservatives were attacking the Labour party for the possibility that Labour might raise VAT to 20%.

This is the poster they unveiled.

via @jamesgraham

And then there’s this interview with Cameron around the same time:

Reporter: Are you able to make the voters any sort of promise on VAT? Ar eyou able to rule VAT rises out?

Cameron: Well what we can say is that we’ve set out our plans. Our plans involve cutting wasteful spending and stopping the National Insurance rise. Our plans don’t involve an increase in VAT. We’re saying it should be wasteful government spending that’s cut rather than putting up taxes as the government suggests. And the only party that has had plans to put up VAT has been the Labour party…

Watch (2min 5secs in):

So much for Conservative honesty with the public.

Reader comments

1. Nicole Healing

   RT @libcon: Remember when Tories campaigned against VAT rise? http://bit.ly/aAiGCO

2. Huw Spanner

   We are so used to politicians lying to us for electoral gain – but why do they get away with it? RT @libcon: http://bit.ly/aAiGCO

3. bethan john

   RT @libcon: Remember when Tories campaigned against VAT rise? http://bit.ly/aAiGCO

4. Christopher Roussel

   Ahhh, the rhetoric in politics: http://is.gd/d0h1n

5. sdv_duras

   RT @impleri: Ahhh, the rhetoric in politics: http://is.gd/d0h1n

6. Liberal Conspiracy

   Remember when Tories campaigned against VAT rise? http://bit.ly/aAiGCO

7. AndyG

   RT @libcon: Remember when Tories campaigned against VAT rise? http://bit.ly/aAiGCO

8. Chloe Setter

   RT @libcon: Remember when Tories campaigned against VAT rise? http://bit.ly/aAiGCO

9. Stuart Vallantine

   A wee reminder for those who voted Tory or were conned by the Lib Dems: http://s.coop/toryVATlies

10. Kate Muggins

    http://bit.ly/aAiGCO /via @libcon STUFF TAX! STUFF TAX! maybe wd be more emotive if about specific stuff eg England kit tax. Cake tax etc.

11. Rogue

    RT @libcon Remember when Tories campaigned against VAT rise? http://bit.ly/9v1REG

12. elgan

    RT @libcon: Remember when Tories campaigned against VAT rise? http://bit.ly/aAiGCO

13. Tory dishonesty on austerity logic « Tribune – Labour leadership gossip, news, features and comment from Britain's left-wing magazine

    [...] Conspiracy reports this morning that the Tories unveiled a poster two years ago accusing Labour of dishonestly planning to raise VAT by 20% without letting the [...]

14. >>Nostalgia For Infinity - Just sayin’ (you’re hypocrites (quelle surprise))

    [...] And sometime in 2009: [...]

15. Mark Best

    @ninetyone banter http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/06/23/remember-when-tories-campaigned-against-vat-rise/

16. Thrifty

    @TomBlenkinsop There's a good interview with Cameron back when he was supposedly against the VAT rise here : http://tinyurl.com/2vyljuq