“It says everything about this Government when they triumphantly announce measures that solve none of the problems they themselves created, lined up for 5 years in the future, when they don’t even know what the next 5 weeks will bring.” Kieran Thorpe, Leader of the Labour Group

Rosie Newbigging, our Parliamentary Candidate said “It wasn’t long ago that Theresa May was telling us all that “austerity is over” while dancing across the stage at the Conservative Party conference. Well, it’s clear that this is a broken promises budget that’s full of half measures, from a failed Tory government. The misery of austerity grinds on with 14 million people living in poverty, 1 million people forced to use foodbanks, a steep rise in homelessness and essential public services cut to the bone.

The money for the NHS, including the money for mental health, is nowhere near enough to plug the massive funding gap created by real terms cuts year on year resulting in the longest waiting times for A&E and cancer treatment since records began. Over 4 million people are on waiting lists for treatment in England. And the relentless attack on the social care system which is at breaking point, will not go away. This budget only gives a pitiful amount to social care despite the desperate levels of need among elderly people, people with disabilities and children’s services.

There is nothing extra for every day policing, despite a rise in violent crime and the Conservatives are pumping even more money into the costly and callous Universal Credit system which is causing real suffering right here in Welwyn Hatfield.

School cuts will continue to bite with derisory sums in the budget averaging £10k for primary schools and £50k for secondary schools. For schools like Onslow in Hatfield facing cuts of nearly £500 per pupil by 2020 the Tory sums are an insult. Over 400,000 primary school children are in super sized classes and there are over 24,000 children unqualified teachers working in state schools.

That is why on Monday – budget day – I attended a crisis meeting with local parents, school governors and some supportive local Councillors who have set up a community based campaign ‘Stop Education Cuts in Welwyn Hatfield’. We refuse to allow yet another generation of children have their futures stolen by a failed Tory government.

Conservatives like Grant Shapps will be quick to tout this as a ‘great’ budget, when in reality it does nothing to recognise the scale of emergency in our public services – or the burden shouldered by the many for so long. 8 years of Tory austerity has created a broken Britain with a massive gap between rich and poor and hard working families under intense pressure as witnessed by the rapid rise in the numbers living in poverty who are working.

It is time to give Grant Shapps and the rest of this cruel and heartless Tory government their P45s. We urgently need a Labour government to rebuild our country and deliver for the many, not just the wealthy few. I am ready to be your MP and play my part in creating a fair and decent society that creates an economy that works for us all and public services that meet all our needs. Society is judged on how it treats it most vulnerable members. Only Labour can deliver.”

Kieran Thorpe, Leader of the Labour Group on Welwyn Hatfield Council said, “It says everything about this Government when they triumphantly announce measures that solve none of the problems they themselves created, lined up for 5 years in the future, when they don’t even know what the next 5 weeks will bring.

Local Government funding has been cut, there is no end to austerity for Welwyn Hatfield or any other Council. They can’t keep the lights on, they can’t pick up the rubbish, they can’t fund emergency services, but they can cut taxes in a way that again disproportionately benefits the most wealthy. If this is “thrilling” to Conservatives like Grant Shapps, you have to wonder if they’ve spent so long ignoring reality that they just can’t see it anymore.”