Osborne: Britain could be Portugal without cuts
Chancellor George Osborne told the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) that Portugal’s debt crisis confirmed the need for an austerity drive in Britain:
“If you hear the stories about the cuts and still wonder why our country needs to take these difficult decisions, then look at what is happening around us.
“First Greece, then Ireland, today Portugal. All of them countries that did not convince the world they could pay their debts.
“Today of all days you can see the risks which would face Britain if we were not dealing with our debts. The risks are not imaginary. They are very, very real.
“Those in our country who deny the urgent need to deal with our deficit are playing Russian roulette with Britain’s national sovereignty.”
