Due to the revolving door of Chancellors in 2022, Jeremy Hunt’s Budget was the first in 18 months.
The Spring Budget was the Government’s opportunity to unlock Britain’s potential, but, at best, it papers over the cracks of 13 years of Conservative failure.
The UK currently has the lowest growth in the G7 group of advanced economies and, after 13 years of wage stagnation, British workers are now £11,000 a year worse off, leaving families struggling.
The tax burden continues to rise and is on course to hit the highest levels since the Second World War.
What was the Chancellor’s response? Mr Hunt prioritised a handout for the very richest and their pension pots, and his plans to extend free childcare won’t benefit any child that has already been born.
“Labour will protect communities, with 13,000 more neighbourhood police”
While greater devolution to Greater Manchester and the West Midlands is welcome, the rest of the country is still subject to centralised decision-making from this disastrous Conservative government. The Chancellor announced no further investment for housing, public health or children’s services – and his answer to the adult social care crisis was a £250 million cut that is desperately needed to boost the workforce.
No extra resources were committed for tackling antisocial behaviour. Under the Conservatives, criminals are let off and victims let down, with only one in 20 recorded crimes resulting in a charge.
After 13 years of cuts to public services, police forces are strained. Police officers are expected to respond to mental health crises or spend hours in A&E when they should be patrolling our streets. Government must recognise public services are connected: investing in local government and our NHS will help tackle crime. Visible policing matters to communities. Bobbies on the beat not only make residents feel safe but prevent crime. Labour will protect communities, with 13,000 more neighbourhood police, more action to stop people being drawn into crime and more prosecutions.
Our country prides itself on policing by consent and Labour’s new mandatory vetting requirement will ensure trust in our police forces.
Labour is the only party of law and order. A Labour government will deliver safer homes, safer streets, and safer communities.