Morally repugnant

This week’s budget did bring with it some surprises and disappointments.

One of the surprises was the Westminster Government’s proposed abolition of PFI and PFI2 projects for future public undertakings. What a pity it has taken ten years after the SNP Scottish Government did similar, on recognising PFI is exploitation of our public services for private wealth. Dividends alone paid to PFI investors in the last decade in Scotland have exceeded £500 million. These deals, signed and agreed by the previous Labour/libdem administration in Holyrood, are still costing Scotland dearly.

The disappointments of this Budget were numerous. One was the issue of women and state pensions and in particular women born in the 1950s. Members of the WASPI (Women against State Pension Inequality) campaign were present in the public gallery during the Budget, yet their plight was overlooked once again by the Chancellor – no justice for them.

Then we had the Chancellor trying to appease his own benches as he threw money at the shambles of Universal Credit instead of ordering a complete review and a halt to the roll-out. As a result, many claimants will spend Christmas cold and hungry, a public disgrace.

Local authorities in Scotland have called on the Chancellor for compensation for the monies they have spent mitigating against the impact of Universal Credit. This amounts to millions and is the only safety net available to so many. Once again the Chancellor remained silent on this matter – shame on the (comfy) Conservatives.

But Mr Hammond had one final surprise in his little red box, that only served to add salt to the wounds of the poor and needy; he announced tax breaks for higher earners, not only an outrage, but morally repugnant.

CATRIONA C CLARK Hawthorn Drive, Banknock, Falkirk