Tory leader David Cameron led the charge against Chancellor Alistair Darling's first budget in the House of Commons.

The Witney MP said: "The City may be having a credit crunch but this Government has a credibility crunch.

"The Treasury has run out of money and they have left Britain running on empty."

Boris Johnson, Tory MP for Henley, told the Oxford Mail: "This is a paralysis budget, reflecting the increasing cost of living in Labour's Britain. Tax rises on alcohol should have been "more intelligently targeted" at alcopops, which Mr Johnson said were "the real cause of so much anti-social behaviour".

Andrew Smith, Labour MP for Oxford East, described the budget as "good and responsible" and predicted it would see the country through "difficult world conditions".

He said: "I particularly welcome the extra help for pensioners on the winter fuel payment, and the increases in child benefit and tax credits."

Mr Smith added that the move to reduce road tax for lower emission cars could benefit production and sales of the Mini in Cowley.

Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: "Oxfordshire people care strongly about the need for tough action to protect the environment but this is a great green cop-out.

"The Government has missed the opportunity to use alcohol taxation as a mechanism to change behaviour - placing large increases on all forms of alcohol is nothing more than a tax grab."