The Robin Hood Government

Is this Government the most Robin Hood like in recent times?

Labour are quick to mount the class war cry at the Coalition Government. Yet, even with public debt at £900 billion, the new Coalition have made every effort to ensure that more money has been distributed from the rich to the poor than in many a year:

- The Income tax threshold was raised by £1000, removing hundreds of
thousands of people from income tax altogether.

- A new 'pupil premium' will boost education for one million
disadvantaged school children.

- A new 'Robin Hood' levy on banks will be introduced from January
2011.

- NHS spending will be ring-fenced.

- The basic State Pension will rise by earnings, prices, or 2.5 per
cent, whichever is greater.

- Child Tax Credit will increase generously next year.

- An extra £60 million will help fund an additional room for carers,
over the next few years.

- There will be a two-year public sector pay freeze, EXCEPT for the 1.7 million on lower incomes.

- Council Tax will be frozen next year.

- Housing Benefit was capped at £250 per week for a one bedroom
property, £290 for two, £340 for three and £400 for a four bedroom property.
So hard-working families will no longer have to subsidise people to
live in mansions that they themselves could not afford.

- A Capital gain tax on the assets of the rich so that we no longer have a situation that they pay less tax than their cleaners.

Far more Sherwood Forest than Notting Hill don't you think?


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Labour Cuts

It is interesting that Labour is so quick to denounce Tory proposed 'cuts' (often mythical) to public services, yet remain so quiet when genuine, Government cut-backs hit vital public services.

For example, only a week or so ago, Harlow Learning Shops, closed due to lack of funding. Learning Direct, was an excelllent service because it enabled many young people across Harlow to be given special skills in key areas like computers, maths and English. Other Harlow Residents were given IT training and help with CVs.

For Government cuts in Harlow, read national. Chancellor Alistair Darling, has admitted that big cuts are on the way. This is inevitable because of the mismanagement of the economy and the huge 175 billion pounds public borrowing this year alone. According to the BBC, Mr Darling has said the Government will have to"cut costs and shift resources".

For years, Labour has thrived on the politics of fear, claiming that Conservative policy was to cut public expenditure. Now, when Mr Brown is in a deep economic hole - a mess of his own making - he acknowledges that the Government will have to rein back spending, thereby adopting the very economic policy that he has been denouncing for years. Only a few weeks ago in the House of Commons, Mr Brown falsly attacked the Conservatives for proposing ten percent cuts in public services. At the time his statements were greeted with incredulity by journalists and commentators. He has been found out; as the wolf who cried once too often.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Conservatives will protect Sure Start

I have written before, about Labour falsehoods about Conservative spending plans, and also their own planned cuts to public services. One matter that has really angered me, is that the Labour MP for Harlow, has put it about, that Conservatives will scrap Sure Start in Harlow. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Labour have accused the Conservatives of planning to cut £200 million from the Sure Start budget – almost 20 per cent – which, they claim is the equivalent of closing one in five children’s centres. This is an outrageous claim, and one which is designed to put fear into the local community about the future of Sure Start.

The facts are as follows: Conservatives fully support Sure Start. In fact we want to boost the Sure Start programme by making it work better by becoming more health-led. Despite the importance of a child’s early years, Labour have cut the number of properly-trained health visitors by 2,000. For this reason, Conservative plans also will pay for 4,200 new, trained health visitors. This will give parents much better support in the crucial early years of their child’s life.

I have no problem with a serious debate about levels of public spending and taxation - particularly given the huge level of debts we now face. But, this won't be achieved if Labour just try to promote a climate of fear about threats to local services, not least because their own budget plans threaten vital public facilities. Time for some more honesty, please.

P.S. In future blog postings, I will highlight other Labour party falsehoods about Conservative spending plans.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Gordon Brown's spending cuts

The Institute of Fiscal Studies has noted that Labour's recent Budget, heralds a round of significant cuts in public services by Gordon Brown's Government. Fraser Nelson, a distinguished journalist, notes that Labour are planning 7.6% cuts in real term spending. In fact spending will be halved from £44 billion in 2009-10 to £22 billion in 2013-14. Labour's decision to reduce spending on public services is all the more extraordinary, since their main attack on Conservatives has always been that Tories will reduce spending on public services!

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com