DROITWICH Spa's MP branded Gordon Brown's budget as "the most boring and irrelevant" he had heard in his eleven years in the Commons.

Mr Luff accused the Chancellor of trying to cover up mistakes with boring detail and small announcements that should have been made by other ministers.

But Worcestershire County Council's Labour leader Peter Pinfield (Droit.Town) defended his party and said no Chancellor could be expected to produce an 'all singing and dancing' budget when the country is at war.

Mr Luff, who represents the Mid-Worcestershire constituency, said Mr Brown glossed over the fact he has reduced his growth forecasts and hid the sharp increase in Government borrowing.

"He didn't tell us that business investment is down," Mr Luff commented following Wednesday's announcements.

"He never mentioned that manufacturing output fell in 2002 and he failed to remind us that savings are at record low levels.

"The Chancellor didn't own up to the swinging tax increases he has imposed on hard working families and pensioners.

"And he didn't admit that the public services are getting worse, not better."

The father-of-two said residents will now be paying more taxes but getting precious little to show for it.

He added: "We've paid the money - but where are the trains, the teachers, the doctors or the nurses?"

Cllr Pinfield described the budget as balanced, which was realistic at time when the country is engaged in the Iraqi war.

"It is helping people in new areas, and for the time being, a 'steady as you go' approach budget is what we need," he added.