Sunak vow to balance the books
RISHI Sunak yesterday admitted “hard choices are everywhere” as he tries to balance the economic books in the Covid pandemic.
In an underwhelming 10-minute address to the Conservative Party’s online conference, the Chancellor repeated his mantra that he could “not protect every job” and offered no extended support for millions facing the end of furlough payments.
He also warned there is no cost-free answer to getting the economy back under control.
Sunak said: “We will protect the public finances over the medium term, getting our borrowing and debt back under control.
“We have a sacred responsibility to future generations to leave the public finances strong and through careful management of our economy, this Conservative Government will always balance the books. If instead we argue there is no limit on what we can spend, that we can simply borrow our way out of any hole, what is the point in us?”
Len McCluskey, leader of Britain’s biggest union, Unite, said: “Warm words and sympathy do not put food on the table. When the country hungers for a hearty diet of jobs saving and creation, the Chancellor has offered little more than thin gruel for fearful workers.”
Sunak said his “single priority” will be to create opportunities and announced a £238million job entry targeted support (Jets) scheme to help jobseekers out of work for at least three months.
It will be available to people receiving Universal Credit payment, or the new-style Jobseeker’s Allowance. The scheme will be introduced in Scotland in 2021 after being piloted in parts of England.