Anger at top Tories' luxury breaks

Senior MPs were accused of "highly insensitive conduct" after celebrating the New Year with lavish holidays.

Among them was Chancellor George Osborne, who defied austerity Britain by taking a luxury break at the ski resort Klosters, despite telling voters "we're all in this together" when calling for massive cuts to get the country out of the red at the 2009 Tory Party conference.

Fellow Tory MP Zac Goldsmith was reportedly sunning himself at a 8,000-a-week villa in the Caribbean over the New Year - in contrast to David Cameron, who scrapped an expensive holiday in Thailand for fear of sending the wrong message.

John O'Connell from the TaxPayers' Alliance last night slammed the lavish New Year celebrations. He said: "With hikes in VAT and fuel duty, it won't be a very happy new year for many taxpayers, so some will see this as highly insensitive given their own circumstances.

"The new taxes politicians are putting in place will make it that bit harder for ordinary families to enjoy little luxuries."

Mr Osborne's official spokesman refused to comment on his travel arrangements, but a source close to the Chancellor said: "George has flown out for a few days to be with his family. He will be back at his desk this week when the country goes back to work."