Tuesday 22 June 2010

Colchester Labour condemns the
'Tax and Axe' Budget

Colchester Labour Party has condemned the Tory Government's budget as a "tax and axe budget" that is economically dangerous and socially devisive.

George Osborne delivered a Budget that will throw people out of work, hold back economic growth and damage the public services we all rely on. The Tories have broken their promise to be fair, with tax increases and benefit cuts that will hit hardest at the people who can least afford it.

This Budget will affect everyone:

• Growth next year would have been higher and unemployment lower with Labour’s responsible, credible plan to halve the deficit over four years;
• Increasing VAT from 17.5% to 20%, so that higher prices will be paid in the shops by everyone, from pensioners to the unemployed;
• Cuts to tax credits, and cutting back free school meals;
• Cuts to the disability living allowance, cuts to help for the jobless;
• Freezing Child Benefit for the next three years.

Colchester Labour Party Chairman, Jordan Newell, said:

"This budget is economically dangerous and socially devisive, and its time to set the record straight - the Tories can't encourage economic growth, and reduce the deficit,  by throwing people out of their jobs and abandoning support for business."

Colchester's Tory-LibDem MP Bob Russell has said he might not support the budget, on a matter of "priniciple and conscience".

"I am pleased that Bob Russell may vote down the budget. It is a shame that his principles did not materialise when he decided to prop up David Cameron's tax and axe Government for the sake of 22 ministerial jobs," Jordan added.