The Socialist 1 September 2010

A fightback can stop cuts

A fightback can stop cuts

Our future under attack

Anti-cuts movement builds momentum in Plymouth

North Staffs TUC public meeting against cuts

Cuts hit poor hardest

Fighting the far right in Bradford

Labour's three stooges aid Con-Dem coalition

Government cuts hit our benefits

Keep Middle Street centre open

Defend school meals

Slashing public services: do councillors have 'no choice'?

Lobby the TUC conference

Kazakhstan: Human rights activist beaten and arrested

Worldwide protests against brutal attack on three Russian socialists

Pakistan flood disaster: Workers' solidarity appeal

General strike movement sweeps South Africa

Battles ahead on London Underground

London firefighters ballot for action

Jobs threat at RBS

Coventry mail centre closes

Civil service jobs under the cosh

Previous issues, etc

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Cuts hit poor hardest

THE CON-Dem coalition claims that their 'progressive' cuts hit hardest at the rich and that they 'shield' poor families from the effects of austerity. The report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), gives the lie to this.

The IFS called Tory chancellor Osborne's emergency budget "clearly regressive" with cuts in welfare provision making working families on the lowest incomes - particularly those with children - the biggest losers.

They looked at proposed changes to housing benefit, disability allowances and tax credits pencilled in between today and 2015. They conclude that "they hit the poorest households more than those in the upper middle of income distribution in cash, let alone percentage, terms."

The poorest 10% of families could lose over 5% of their income as a result of the budget compared with a loss of under 1% for non-pensioner households without children in the richest 10% of households.

The rest of the population will face attacks on jobs and services. By the look of it, the only people to escape will be the ultra-rich and their friends, unless the working class movement steps up the fight.

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A fightback can stop cuts