Corbyn: A Budget that simply tosses fuel on the fire
JEREMY Corbyn accused the Government of “tossing fuel on the fire” via the Budget, despite Theresa May’s promise to tackle burning injustice.
The Labour leader also predicted that Philip Hammond’s spending plans will quickly unravel and result in continuing “misery” for people across the country.
Replying to the Budget, he described the Government as having a “record of failure with a forecast of more to come”.
Mr Corbyn told MPs: “The reality test of this Budget has to be how it affects ordinary people’s lives.
“I believe as the days go ahead and this Budget unravels, the reality will be a lot of people will be no better off and the misery many are in will be continuing.”
Mr Corbyn also criticised the Government for repeatedly pushing back its target to reduce Britain’s deficit, as well as the rise in rough sleeping and the fact 120,000 children would spend this Christmas living in temporary accommodation.
The poorest tenth of households, he said, would lose 10% of their income by 2022, while the richest would lose just 1%.
He said: “So much for tackling burning injustice, this is a Government tossing fuel on the fire.”
Mr Corbyn called on Mr Hammond to put Universal Credit “on hold” so it can be fixed to “keep one million of our children out of poverty”.
He said: “The Chancellor’s solution to a failing system causing more debt is to offer a loan, and the six-week wait, with 20% waiting even longer, simply becomes a five-week wait.”
Mr Corbyn later said the “hardest hit” of the “long-term economic pain” are disabled people, single parents and women.