THE CHANCELLOR’S budget statement in Parliament revealed the truth about 13 years of Conservative government.
They have mismanaged our nation’s finances and people are worse off than they were 13 years ago.
Sadly, there was not too much relief for families in Coventry North West who are struggling to make ends meet.
I want to thank all the residents who took part in my pre-budget survey, and who supported my calls to stop the plan to increase energy bills.
The government has now given to pressure from people across the country and agreed to extend vital support with household bills until June.
However, I am concerned that this simply isn’t good enough to meet the challenges my constituents are facing.
Wages are decreasing in real terms, we have the weakest economy in the G7 and our public services are underfunded and struggling to meet people’s needs.
In my pre-budget survey, 78 per cent of respondents told me they were ‘very worried’ about the NHS crisis. I was so disappointed there was nothing for the NHS in this budget, even though health and wealth are closely linked.
The Chancellor could have nicked Labour’s plan to recruit 10,000 more nurses and midwives, which over 80 per cent of my survey’s respondents supported, but he refused.
This Conservative government simply does not share our ambition to deliver world-class healthcare for patients.
There was also nothing about investing in skilled green jobs, such as a gigafactory for Coventry.
Our local businesses have also been let down by the lack of any plans to reform businesses rates, which continue to favour big online companies at the expense of local high streets.
But once again, there was a huge tax break for the wealthiest one per cent in our society – the Chancellor has completely the wrong priorities.
In the coming weeks we will see how many of the announcements stand up to scrutiny.
I feel many will unravel, like the government’s childcare offer.
Whilst the free childcare extension is welcome, this will not work if our pre-schools and nurseries do not have the funding they need make this provision available and remain viable businesses.
Already many are struggling, as funding is simply not keeping up with soaring utility bills and staffing costs.
Unlike this government, Labour has a clear vision to deliver economic growth, good jobs and properly funded public services across all parts of the United Kingdom.
Of the few ideas this government has left, so many are just nicked from Labour.
It was Labour which campaigned for action on childcare and we will go further than the Chancellor, funding breakfast clubs for all primary schools because childcare is needed for more than just nursery children.
Labour campaigned to do away with pre-payment meter charges and Labour led the way in demanding a further windfall tax on oil and gas companies’ excess profits to help cut energy bills.
After 13 years, the Conservatives are out of ideas. They need to be out of government too.
Taiwo Owatemi
MP for Coventry North West
