Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards, has accused Chancellor George Osborne of “hiding behind headlines while sharpening the axe” in today’s Budget announcement.

Mr Edwards said Mr Osborne had delivered a ‘jam tomorrow’ budget with swingeing cuts were in the pipeline straight after the general election.

The Plaid Cymru Treasury spokesperson, a strong critic of Westminster economic and fiscal policies since entering Parliament in 2010, said today’s Budget showed Westminster “failing to deliver for Wales”

He also labelled the announcement “mainly window dressing” claiming a second Budget was certain to be held following May’s General Election.

"The pre-election giveaways designed to pander to the Tory core vote mask the reality that in the next Parliament our public services are set to suffer billions of pounds more austerity cuts. Let’s not forget that these cuts have received the full support of the Labour party,” he said.

"This was a 'jam tomorrow' Budget from a Chancellor who is busy sharpening the axe ready for the next parliament.

"It is highly likely that another Budget will be announced after the election, much in the same way as happened in 2010, meaning that this one is mainly window dressing.

"Overall, this Budget has seen Westminster fail to deliver for Wales. Plaid Cymru wants to see an end to austerity, an increase in infrastructure investment, and for Wales to receive parity of funding with Scotland.”

However, he was able to pinpoint some positives in the Chancellor’s financial plan.

"Plaid Cymru fully supports the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project to generate jobs and sustainable energy. However, we would have preferred to see direct capital investment for the project instead of a financing model that will, at the end of the day, place the cost of the project on energy consumers.

“Support for self-employed farmers, enabling them to average out their profits, is particularly welcome. The agricultural industry is volatile and subject to factors often beyond the control of farmers. I’m pleased this flexibility will now be extended to farmers.

“Supporting and protecting local newspapers has been an issue I have pursued for many years in Parliament. It is good news that the Westminster Government will now consult on how local newspapers, which are a pillar of our community and vital to our democracy, can receive better tax support.”

Last week, Plaid Cymru outlined its fiscal proposals with an underlying message that austerity had failed and that substantial investment in infrastructure was required to generate jobs and growth.

"The big challenges facing the UK and Welsh economy are low levels of productivity and low levels of business investment.

"Our proposals to increase infrastructure investment by 1% of UK GDP a year would rebalance the economy and ensure that the recovery reaches every corner of Wales. This modest increase alone would bring nearly £1bn to our nation each year.

"As Labour and the Tories promise billions more cuts that will hit Welsh communities hard, Plaid Cymru has responsible plans to grow the economy and stop Wales being treated as a second class nation."