Budget Backlash

Although the budget was yesterday, it seems more truth has emerged today. Alistair Darling was interviewed by BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson and admitted that after looking at the actions Margaret Thatcher’s government took in the 1980s and comparing it to the Treasury's own resent figures- the cuts made by Labour will be ‘deeper and tougher’ and this was all said in a comfortable chair, away from the clamour of parliament. He also left it to Liam Byrne, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to also admit on Question Time ‘Yes, they will be.’

This is not the only issue, as these spending cuts will not be announced before the election. Of course the dreaded word ‘cuts’ are a number one voter turn off. A YouGov poll on 16^th March 2010 shows that 42% of people believe ‘The government should not cut spending too soon: it would risk putting the country back into recession’. Of course if the government want another turn in office, they are obviously going to keep trying to keep the bad news at bay for as long as possible- so voters do not panic at the polling stations and vote the other way. But is fair that Labour’s ambitions are getting in the way of public honesty? To tell the truth about the state of our economy and what they really do plan is vial if businesses are going to reinvest in Britain. Not to mention for our own personal preparation; we, the British people, need to know what will be done with our public services- how they will be cut and when. When the average family or person or couple are struggling as it is, they will need to know what direction the next government pinch is going to be coming from, so we can plan what else will need to be set aside for future years to cover the increasing cost of living.

While the Robin Hood taxing approach may appeal to many voters as a way to raise funds to help the poor while targeting the rich, who of course have so many pots of money they do not mind every other one been taken by the government. Many voters are unable to see past their own benefits of this idea, to the greater effects that could be shake our struggling economy. If the rich are continually penalised by a government taking more and more of money- no matter how hard earned it maybe for some- then the simple answer is migration and not the kind that the EU is keen to encourage. The bankers will leave to do business elsewhere and we will all lose out on any taxes they might have raised.

This socialist vote winner of the rich being used to hold up the poor, and the use of these safe words such as ‘efficiency savings’ is that of a government too scared to say the words they will have to be saying in a few months time which is- job cuts, pay cuts, resource cuts and public spending cuts to repay the billions still owed by the UK.

Darling, the truth hurts... but you’ve got to say it.