THE nation’s better off pensioners may be giving three cheers to chancellor George Osborne. But does the budget signal another “Nightmare on Dale Street” scenario for Mayor Anderson?
Look at the small print and its clear the Conservatives will continue their austerity measures well beyond 2015 (should they win next year’s general election), possibly into the 2020s.
It’s already grim up north, but life could become even grimmer. Nevertheless, Osborne, MP for wealthy Tatton, was grinning like a Cheshire Cat as he fronted the longest ever party political broadcast this week.
Maybe many of his affluent older constituents will form an orderly queue to snap up Pensioner Bonds and stash their money in ISAs, while thousands of pensioners across Merseyside will be wondering whether to eat or heat the house. Doing both is not an option for far too many people.
Pic courtesy of www.b3ta.com
It’s known as the Budget but in Parliamentary speak it is the Ways and Means Statement, and it was immediately clear the Chancellor was being mean in the way he was tackling the economy.
The cue came in Osborne’s opening remarks….if you’re a maker, a doer or a saver this budget is for you. In other words if you are poor, unemployed, struggling to make ends meet in these strained times, then you are on your own.
No longer will it pay NOT to work, he said between the applause and cheers from the government side.
What about people relying on food banks, desperate for work, forced to accept unpredictable zero-hours contract jobs?
Osborne made it clear a cap on the welfare budget would be permanent, including housing benefit.
Will that mean a big reduction in the money given to councils like Liverpool to pay for housing benefit. It is already being rationed, but there could be worse to come. It could end up as bad as the hated bedroom tax if people are forced to dip into their food money to pay the rent.
Public sector spending cuts will continue into the next government he said. But never mind, you can drown your sorrows with that penny or a pint, or escape to the bingo hall to celebrate the halving of the duty paid by owners.
Wonder what the catchy titles will be when numbers 10 and 11 are called?
The Chancellor, either forgetful or using political sleight of hand, announced AGAIN a money guarantee for the new Mersey bridge, unless there are plans for three or four new bridges between Widnes and Runcorn.
DodoIt’s not even government dosh he’s handing over to the half-starved north. The £270m is a government guarantee. The actual cash will be paid by money generated from tolls. Around 90,000 vehicles a day use the current Silver Jubilee Bridge. With a toll of £2 a trip, it will be a money spinner.
The Chancellor spoke of the Government wanting to help business by helping regional airports – he particularly mentioned Liverpool JLA – to introduce long haul flights. That means the pensioners of Liverpool will be able to cash in their pension pots, pensioner bonds and ISAs and jet off to sunnier climes.
It was as though Osborne and Co were declaring people on welfare as an endangered species, doomed to follow in the footsteps of the dodo. And when you think about it, the dodo does share a strong resemblance with the Liver Bird.
