Commenting on the investment plans announced in the spending review today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“The chancellor is trying to turn the page on the austerity disaster inflicted on communities across the UK by successive Conservative governments.
“Ministers know investing in key public services is the best way to undo the damage of the past and grow the economy of the future.
“Fourteen years of cuts and underfunding have wreaked devastation on every aspect of public life. Town centres are dilapidated, roads riddled with potholes, NHS waits too long and people feel unsafe on the streets.
“But the government could make it easier on itself by shifting the dial on taxation. Bringing in a wealth tax would generate extra money that could help fix broken Britain.
“Building thousands of affordable new homes will be music to the ears of thousands of teaching assistants, hospital porters, university security guards, town hall cleaners and other low-paid public service workers.
“More social housing means they’ll be able to live closer to their places of work in future. In the meantime, the extension of the £3 bus-fare cap will help people better afford their commutes.
“Although the NHS will be getting an extra funding boost, the reality on the ground now is very different. Health trusts across England are making damaging cuts to jobs and services under ministers’ orders to balance this year’s budgets.
“Extra cash will always be gratefully received by hard-pressed councils. But their financial situation is so dire, it’ll take much more than £3.4bn to put them back on track.
“It’s disappointing too there was no extra cash announced to stop disability benefits being slashed. Cuts to personal independent payments mostly affect those in work and will make it much harder for them to stay in their jobs.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
The article Focus on public services will help boost struggling communities first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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