Autumn statement: UNISON - Dave Prentis reaction

5 Dec 2012

Commenting on Chancellor George Osborne’s, autumn statement, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:

“Today’s statement is more proof that the Chancellor neither knows nor cares about what ordinary working people in this country are going through. The austerity agenda means that families across the country have even less to spend on everyday essentials, while tax winners at the top have more. Raising personal tax allowances is small beer for families facing rising food and energy bills.

“The budget in March was certainly not the Chancellor’s finest hour and the statement today will do nothing to restore confidence in his ability to drag the country back into growth. It is time to give the economy an adrenalin shot. The Chancellor’s plans are simply not working, his economic policies are in tatters - debt is rising, growth is flat lining and unemployment is still unacceptably high.

“We heard nothing today that showed the Government is prepared to face the challenge head on and invest substantially in infrastructure, in building much needed homes, and putting money into people’s pockets to get them spending and boosting the economy.”

UNISON UK news releases are here

UNISON Scotland's reaction to the autumn statement will be posted here shortly.

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