Deficit used as cover for Tories to attack Welfare State

i WATCHED BBC1’s Question Time recently, and although I write from the South West of the UK, I would like to make an observation about the Doncaster audience on the question which read “Why can’t politicians tell us the truth about the 60 per cent of cuts heading our way?”

I was amazed at how little the audience members knew about this issue, because austerity is ideologically driven. The Tories are using the deficit as a cover to reduce the State, cut welfare to the bone and privatise the NHS, and they are getting away with it because there is no opposition to it.

The Tories are ideologically opposed to the welfare state; this is why we have food banks across the country. None of what the Tories are doing is about costs. It is about arrogance towards the poor.

The Tory mantra of making painful cuts to reduce the deficit is little more than a smoke screen.

From: Dr Glyn Powell, Bakersfield Drive, Kellington, Goole.

THE Autumn Statement delivered by George Osborne gave further evidence of how out of touch from ordinary people the predominantly public school-educated front bench of the coalition Government is.

Despite over four years of financial pain for the poorest in society, Osborne has failed miserably to achieve any of his financial targets announced in 2010.

The Chancellor uses sleight of hand to claim that the financial deficit has been halved, basing this on a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). In real terms, it has barely fallen. Tax revenues are down, owing to most people in employment receiving pitifully low wages and, hence suffering falling living standards.

Therefore, the UK’s financial morass will only deteriorate further, resulting in vital social services being cut for the elderly and infirm. The Chancellor indicated changes to stamp duty, boasting that this would help the housing market. It is not this market that needs boosting but manufacturing industry.

Despite the financial situation, he announces massive spending on roads. This is pie in the sky politics, as many of the schemes outlined were detailed in Margaret Thatcher’s government, some 30 years ago. They came to nought, owing to a lack of finance.

Osborne says things will get better. Such “jam tomorrow” politics only serves to belittle the intelligence of the electorate.