PLAID Cymru have had a freedom of information request granted which they say reveals that Liberal Democrat MP Roger Williams did not meet with Conservative Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan to discuss his concerns about the UK budget.
The Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams appeared on television before the UK budget stating he would not vote for a rise in VAT because he thought it was 'a very regressive tax that falls most heavily on the most poorest in society.'
Plaid Cymru AM Nerys Evans said: “The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader in Westminster was prepared to go on television to argue the case against a rise in VAT but was unable to make his concerns known through a meeting with the Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan.
"There is a danger that Wales is being ignored in government circles because those who are supposed to be making the case in government are proving to be not up to the mark.”
Plaid's spokesperson for Welsh Affairs Jonathan Edwards MP added: "I'm astonished that while Mr Williams openly protested the VAT hike in the media just a few days later he then had the audacity to vote in favour of the rise.
"Now we discover that he didn't even have the courage of his convictions to do anything about the VAT hike before the vote either.
"He certainly didn't support the Plaid Cymru amendment which would have blocked the rise.
“The Lib Dems are continuously letting down our Welsh communities, from u-turning on Trident to supporting the VAT hike, people have seen through the empty promises of the Lib Dems.”
Defending himself against such criticism Roger Willaims said: “My views on this issue are well known and I made them directly to Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister.
"Unfortunately it was clear that the mess left by the previous government meant that the Treasury was left with little choice in how to reduce the deficit.
“The Liberal Democrats are now in Government and have managed to already secure a number of commitments from our 2010 election manifesto, such as commitments to clean up the political system including party funding and the right to sack MPs, reform of the banking system, an increase in personal allowances for Income Tax, the abolition of National ID Cards and a referenda on further powers for Wales and a change to the voting system for UK General Elections.
“In the much quoted TV interview I said ‘I oppose an increase in VAT’ for the reasons stated.
"I was one of a number Lib Dem MPs to place amendments that would time-limit any increase in VAT and to make sure that the increase was only applied to goods above £25,000.
"The first of these would ensure that the rate of VAT would return to its usual level of 17.5 after a certain time and would not permanently remain at 20%.
"The second would ensure families on low income would still be able to purchase essential goods of a value of no more than £25,000, such as a standard family car, would also be taxed at the lower rate of 17.5%.”