Counting the real cost of austerity

SO, after eight years with the Tories in charge, the country’s economy is stalling across the board and some sectors may even be contracting (a 1% cut in growth is £20billion, that’s more than £350million a week); business investment has been delayed at best, or is in free fall leading to a halt to the creation of new jobs (Nissan’s lost 700 jobs, crucially); and the economic future of millions of families is in jeopardy, particularly in the North East.

And now the government has been forced to admit that the introduction of Universal Credit has led to an increase in the use of food banks. Yet only last month they rubbished research commissioned by Gateshead Council which found that claimants of this cruel, pernicious benefit (who typically have around £2 a month left after essentials are paid for) is driving them further from the jobs market not closer, even leading some to consider suicide.

The reality is that this government is either in denial about the cumulative effect of their austerity policies’ contribution to an increase in poverty, more children in care, and more families in crisis, or they don’t care. Either way, it’s costing councils (so you and your family) millions, not to mention the cost to the NHS, police, fire and schools.

No sensible person with any humanity would deliberately impoverish a significant proportion of this country’s people so why does this government seem so willing to write off, at huge cost, the future potential of millions of our young people, many of them in the North East?