Angela Eagle: Why I think Budget was a con

Apr 1 2011 By Staff Reporter

AT last Wednesday’s Budget, the Government had the opportunity to help Wirral people and families who are being hit by the biggest squeeze in their living standards for 80 years.

With unemployment at its highest since 1994, inflation at a 20-year high and the cost of essentials like food, fuel and energy soaring, I hoped the Government would do something to help make life a little easier. Unfortunately the Chancellor failed to deliver.

People are feeling the effects of this Government’s decision to cut further and faster than any major economy in the world. Next month Tax Credits will be cut, Child Benefit will be frozen, the Health in Pregnancy Grant will be abolished while the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) which helps young people with the cost of staying on at school will soon be scrapped. The Chancellor did make a 1p cut fuel duty but forgot to mention his 3p VAT rise on fuel in January.

The Government could have chosen to ease the burden and acted on my calls for them to make banks pay more to help reduce the deficit. Instead banks are getting a tax cut this year while people and families in Wirral are paying the price.

The Budget was a classic con. The Government may have given a little with one hand but it has taken much more away with the other.