Alistair & George
There was a stark contrast between Labour's Alistair Darling and the Tory's George Osborne in the House of Commons yesterday as the Chancellor presented the Pre Budget Report.
His message was that Labour would not slash public expenditure whilst people continue to feel the effects of the global downturn.
It's increasingly clear that Labour is the only party in British politics that puts securing the recovery first and introduces new measures to stimulate economic growth. We'll continue support to keep people in work and in their homes by guaranteeing every young person out of work for more than six months the offer of a job, training or college place. We will also maintain our support for people who lose their job to keep their homes.
We will continue support to help businesses manage tough times by pressing the banks to start lending more and helping businesses to defer their tax payments until they can better afford to pay
We're the only party in British politics with a proper plan to halve the deficit, through a tax rise package that is tough but fair – with half of the burden falling on the top 2% of people – and a spending cut package that has been carefully worked through, the highest earners will be asked to pay a little more, including those in the public sector. We'll make it law to halve our overspend in four years.
And because we have taken those tough choices on spending and on tax, I believe that Labour is the only party in British politics deeply committed to protecting frontline public services. Even in tough times, we will protect real terms investment in the NHS frontline, Sure Start, frontline schools and police numbers over the next 3 years. This builds on our progress in Hastings and Rye over the last twelve years.
What a contrast with the Tories! On recovery and growth, the Conservatives would put the recovery at risk by cutting back too fast, too soon. They would cut vital public services like sure start and education to pay for unfair tax cuts for the wealthiest in our society –like a 200k inheritance tax giveaway to 3000 wealthiest estates. But that's not really surprising as cutting public services is what the Tories do!
But what was really astounding was that George Osborne complained that Labour was not cutting services fast enough yet gave no clue as to what he would do differently. If he really believes we can balance the books just a year after the impact of the Economic Tsunami I'd like to know how. The effects of such spending cuts would be devastating on our hospitals and schools. Unemployment would rocket.
If George won't tell us the Tory plans perhaps my local Tory opponent Amber Rudd will be more forthcoming. In particular what schools, what Surestart centres, what health services and which social services would be Tory targets in Hastings & Rye?
To keep up to date on what I'm doing stop by my website http://www.michaelfoster.org.uk/ .
You can also receive a monthly update on my activities by sending an email to mp@1066.net with 'MPFree' in the subject line.
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Weather for Hastings
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
