‘Cuts at an end’ as Javid confirms cash for West Midlands
CHANCELLOR Sajid Javid pledged that cuts in spending have come to an end, as he delivered his first major financial statement.
And he confirmed increases in spending for West Midland schools, hospitals and police – although the announcements were largely repeats of commitments already set out by Boris Johnson since he became Prime Minister in July.
On Wednesady Mr Javid, the MP for Bromsgrove, told the House of Commons that every government department will have its budget increased by at least the rate of inflation next year.
He said: “I can announce today that no department will be cut next year. That’s what I mean by the end of austerity”
Spending reviews usually cover a period of three or four years, but because a full statement has been delayed – due to uncertainty over Brexit – the Government took the decision to set out short-term plans covering just 12 months.
Mr Javid said there will be a 6.3 per cent real terms increase in Home Office
spending, with £750 million to fund the Government’s plan to recruit 20,00 new police officers.
This will get 2,000 officers in place by the end of March, he said.
There will also be more money to protect places of worship such as mosques or synagogues, and £30 million of new funding to fight online child sexual exploitation.
And he pledged cash for more youth centres and to refurbish existing centres.
Mr Javid said the UK needed to invest in infrastructure, including transport – but although he confirmed plans to build a new rail line between Manchester and Leeds, he said other announcements would have to wait until the autumn. He said: “We will kick start a decade of renewal for this country.”
However, he announced more than £200 million to transform bus services across the country. This will help pay for ultra low-emission buses, and buses that respond to passenger needs in real time, he said.
The Treasury also highlighted £422 million provided to help reduce homelessness and rough sleeping, including an additional £54 million in 2020-21, representing a real term increase of 13 per cent compared to 2019-20. This funding will benefit the West Midlands alongside the rest of the country, officials said.
But shadow chancellor John McDonnell, speaking for the Labour Party, mocked the idea that the Tories had abandoned austerity.
He said: “We are expected to believe that these Tories, who for years have voted for harsh, brutal austerity, have had some Damascene conversion. They treat our people with such contempt. Announcements have been dripped out over the last week or so. All designed to give the impression of a spending spree.”
He added: “Any new money for local Government today will be a drop in the ocean compared to the 60 per cent of their funding which councils have lost in recent years.
“What effect does the Chancellor estimate his announcement today will have on the crisis in children’s services after a 29 per cent drop in Government funding over eight years and vulnerable children left at risk?”