Chance to confront the cost of living crisis was ignored
As the Chancellor stood up to deliver the budget last week, it should have been an opportunity for the Government to confront the cost of living crisis – but instead, they chose to ignore it.
In the budget, the Chancellor raised taxes by more this year than any Chancellor has in nearly 30 years, and they will reach their highest level in over 70 years.
This is at a time when family finances are stretched more than ever. Never before have the Governmentaskedforsomuch,forso little in return.
With a new jobs tax, a freeze in personal allowance and the cut to Universal Credit which impacts 10,860 families in Sunderland Central alone, families are facing acrueltriplewhammythatwillhit them in their pockets.
Families are struggling to put food on the table and keep their children warm, but this Government is too busy looking out for themselves and their mates.
ItisabasicdutyofGovernment to ensure that services are properly funded, and that there is a secureandaffordableenergysupply for households and businesses.
Yethalfamillionextrafamilies will be plunged into fuel poverty becauseofthedecisiontoraisethe energy price cap.
Theriseingaspricesisaglobal issue, but the United Kingdom is facing particular difficulties due toalackofresilienceinourenergy system.
It is this under-investment in vital infrastructure that is hitting people’spockets,andthatisstunting our progression to a greener, net zero future.
Additionally, in-work poverty has reached record levels under the Tories.
There are two million more people from working households livinginpovertynow,comparedto 2010, and the budget has ignored the situation that is has forced so many into.
ThisisaGovernmentthatisdetermined to make taxpayers pay for its own incompetence, and as weapproachadifficultwinter,the Government has shown that it is out of touch with the daily lives of the people it claims to represent.
This budget was yet another chance for the Government to support those that worked on the front lines during the pandemic; itwasanotherchancefortheGovernment to deal with the cost-oflivingcrisis;itwasanotherchance tosupportthosewhoneeditmost.
It failed on all these questions, andaswagescontinuetostagnate whilst the taxes raise, it is clear where the Tories’ allegiances lie – and it is not with the taxpayer.