Give us real jobs ..not a meal deal
Whitmore Bay in Barry Island, Wales, yesterday
RISHI Sunak has been slammed for a “let them eat cake” response to the coming jobs tsunami, with fears of up to five million out of work by the end of the year.
The Chancellor is accused of helping the “already haves” – leaving renters, retail staff , young people and those in manufacturing jobs to bear the brunt.
It comes amid warnings his “meal deal” mini Budget did nothing to avoid mass unemployment and soaring evictions, with Britain set for a crisis nearly as bad as the 1930s Great Depression.
Mr Sunak promised “no one will be left without hope” this week as he announced a £30billion “plan for jobs” – including a £500million discount scheme for restaurant diners.
But hunger campaigner Jane Middleton said: “The fact he doesn’t seem to have considered the many who can barely afford to eat is a symbol of the casual cruelty of this Government.”
Ms Middleton, founder of the Labour Hunger Campaign, called the Chancellor’s midweek economic statement a “let them eat cake moment”.
Food banks report a 177 per cent rise in use since the pandemic began.
And while Mr Sunak axed stamp duty on homes up to £500,000, homeless charity Shelter is warning of a surge of rental evictions.
Calling for an urgent change in the law to let judges step in, they say the equivalent of the population of York is already facing threats of action.
Emergency coronavirus measures banned landlords from turfing out late payers. But those end next month – as arrears are set to increase.
Anyone behind by more than eight weeks is liable for automatic eviction. A YouGov survey for Shelter found 174,000 private tenants have already been threatened or received a warning.
Chief executive Polly Neate is calling for judges to be given the power to halt automatic evictions.
She said: “The Government promised no one would lose their home because of coronavirus. We know people have been doing whatever they can to pay their rent. This disaster can still be averted.”
Household borrowing is forecast to reach record levels, with 4.5 million families running up £6billion in debts. The TUC has called on the Government for emergency talks – and a national recovery council made up of ministers, unions and business leaders.
Boss Frances O’Grady said: “The threat of mass unemployment has not gone away after the Chancellor’s statement. We still face a jobs cliff edge.”
Global economic body, the OECD, has forecast UK unemployment rising to 11.7 per cent. It could hit 15 per cent – five million – if there is a coronavirus second wave. Director Stefano Scarpetta said: “The impact is massive.”
Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds said: “We should have had a back-to-work Budget – a day when the millions of British people worried about their job and their future had a load taken off their shoulders.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told yesterday’s Durham Miners’ Gala, held online: “Labour will not allow workers to pay the cost of this crisis. Many of you have been on the front line.”