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Verdict on the budget after the dust has settled

(56 Posts)
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Gracesgran Sun 22-Mar-15 09:05:45

Having now had time to read some of the comments on the budget – there will no doubt be more about it in the papers today – my greatest worry is that the Chancellor has said that he will:

1. Balance the budget (excluding investment) in 2017-18
2. Get into overall surplus in 2018-19 and then, very oddly
3. Raise departmental spending by £24 billion in the last year of the parliament.

This can only be for purely political reasons – like aiming to win the subsequent election. It may be good politics but it is a nasty way to treat the most vulnerable.

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Gracesgran Tue 24-Mar-15 19:20:20

I felt it was under-reported on the news though jen. I do appreciate there are is some awful news at the moment but the report on the Age UK conference gave more time to DC saying he wouldn't serve as leader for a third parliament.

Well done the Guardian for reporting it and I hope it is well covered in tomorrows papers.

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mollie65 Tue 24-Mar-15 21:30:49

gracesgran you do realise that those figures are from 2005 to 2012/13 - who was in power from 2005 to 2010 - the rot had set in.
I dread the thought of Labour and Milliband in power wrecking the economy and making more people reliant on government largesse - as they did in 13 years in power.
no fan of many Conservative policies myself but do you not see that Labour are far far worse (champagne socialists) shock

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Gracesgran Tue 24-Mar-15 22:26:40

No mollie65 I am no fan of the Labour but I feel the Conservative policies are far worse with a disregard for the poor and vulnerable. I would be quite happy if the major parties never held sway again.

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durhamjen Tue 24-Mar-15 22:29:54

Agreed, Gracesgran.
Just seen on the news that Alex Salmond has said if the Tories get in he will not agree to the Queen's speech and if Labour go along with him there will have to be another election.
Good.

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durhamjen Tue 24-Mar-15 22:33:23

This is a graph which shows just how cynical the government is.

https://fullfact.org/economy/rollercoaster_public_spending-40632

They say that public spending will not go back to the level of the 30s, but it's only because they will put it up in 2019-20.

I dislike intensely the fact that they think the general public are idiots.

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