Chancellor must choose assistance not austerity
Scotland’s leading trade union body has issued a stark warning to the UK Chancellor ahead of the Spring Statement, saying she must choose “assistance not austerity”.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress General Secretary Roz Foyer issued the call following the announcement of over £5 billion worth of cuts from the Labour UK Government to welfare support.
The Chancellor is expected to set out further details on the welfare cuts with the STUC previously accusing the UK Government of “punching down” on vulnerable people. In addition, the Chancellor is further expected to announce increased public sector austerity with over 10,000 civil service jobs to be lost over the next decade.
Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:
“In her Spring Statement, the Chancellor has a clear choice. She can help our most vulnerable or she can cut their support. She must choose assistance, not austerity.
“Workers did not vote for austerity 2.0 but with a red rosette. We voted for change. That means direct investment into our public services and social security via tax increases on wealth, property and assets. Instead, we look set to be hit with a £5,000,000,000 reduction to welfare which targets those who can least afford it.
“Being in government requires tough choices, especially after 15 years of Tory incompetence. But those choices simply do not have to be carried on the backs of those who need uplifted and empowered. In addition, the expected cuts to over 10,000 civil servant roles are simply scattergun policy making dressed up as bold public sector reform. It simply targets the wrong people at the wrong time.
“If the government are intent on cutting then they should be ready for the opposition that will come - from the public, from unions and from voters.”
END
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