The 1% ‘walk tall’ while the 99% are bowed by austerity

Commenting on today’s budget by Tory chancellor George Osborne, TUSC Chair and ex-Labour MP Dave Nellist said:

“Hoping to gain a few extra votes, the chancellor has tried to sell this budget as a little relief from the endless austerity he has offered up for the last five years. It is nothing of the sort. The coalition once again banged the austerity drum, promising £30 billion worth of cuts, including £12 billion from welfare.

“George Osborne says austerity is working but the queues at food banks and pay day lenders tell a different story.

“This government of millionaires might think things are improving, but most ordinary workers are facing a Dickensian future rather than a bright recovery.

“George Osborne says wages have started to increase but – that is only if you include bankers’ bonuses in the figures! In fact they are still lower than they were before the ‘Great Recession’ – for young people a massive 12.5% lower. A 20p an hour increase in the minimum wage is a drop in the ocean compared to that. TUSC is campaigning for an immediate £10 an hour minimum wage for all with no exemptions.

“No one who has experienced five years of Con-Dem government will be surprised by this budget, but where is the opposition? Labour also promises continued austerity. When Osborne put his plans for £30 billion worth of cuts under the next government to parliament only five Labour MPs voted against it!

“It is time to take a stand. That is why the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition has attracted a record number of anti-austerity candidates in the elections on 7 May 2015.”

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Information

For Socialist Party election reports, go to: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/webpage/26

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition:

TUSC was co-founded in 2010 by the late Bob Crow of the transport union RMT, together with the Socialist Party, and other socialist groups, to provide an electoral alternative for those opposing austerity.

TUSC is standing over 120 general election and over 500 local election candidates on 7th May 2015. Candidates are available for interview.

For contacts, information, lists of candidates and video clips about TUSC and more: www.tusc.org.uk @TUSCoalition

Interviews

For interviews with Dave, leading activists and any other information requests, please contact:

Sarah Sachs-Eldridge | National Organiser | Socialist Party, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD | T: 020 8988 8771 | M: 079 580 320 71 | E: [email protected]

@socialist_party