PRIVATISATION
The Truth about Privatisation
Along with massive cuts in public spending that will hit jobs, pay and pensions, the coalition government – like the previous one – is committed to further privatisation of our public services.
Follow this link for information on the myths and facts of privatisation: www.pcs.org.uk
THE CUTS
‘The Institute of Fiscal Studies is well respected as an independent analyst. It says that the government’s claim that the tax and benefit changes in the budget and spending review are progressive is wrong.’ (WWW.falseeconomy.org.uk)
This graph is from their analysis of George Osborne’s first budget. It shows the biggest losers are the poorest 10 per cent of families with children:
A FALSE ECONOMY – how to drop the deficit
‘A Robin Hood Tax would raise around £20bn.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Clamping down on tax evasion, avoidance and unpaid taxes would raise up to £120bn.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘A windfall tax on hugely profitable energy, oil, pharmaceutical and banking firms would raise billions more.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Cancelling Trident would save up to £97bn, some of which could be redirected into green energy manufacturing.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Withdrawing from Afghanistan would save around £4.5bn a year.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
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ECONOMICS
Unemployment officially stands at 2.53 million, the highest since 1994 when the Tories were last in power. It is widely expected to rise to at least 3 million.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘One in five 18-24 year olds are not in education or employment.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
’1.5 million people are in part time employment because they cannot find a full time job.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Public sector cuts are expected to put 1 million people out of work.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Osbourne is cutting public spending by more than £80 billion, decimating jobs and services in our communities.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Tax evasion by the wealthy and big firms is estimated to lose taxpayers around £70bn a year. Uncollected tax loses us £25bn. However instead of clamping down Osbourne has cut tax inspectos and has introduced new tax breaks for big business and the rich.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘The poorest household will be hit 15 times as hard by Osbourne’s plans than the richest.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
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JUSTICE
The cuts will strip £350 million from legal aid and £20 million from Citizens’ Advice Bureau. (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
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EDUCATION
‘Education maintenance allowance helping less well-off students to keep learning axed.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘[University] Tuition fees cap lifted to £9,000 a year.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘College fee remittances axed. The remittances currently support over 25s on “inactive” benefits such as income support, housing and council tax benefits and young carers.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Teaching and research budget cut by 6.5 per cent.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
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WELFARE
‘Housing benefits capped at £400 a week.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Child benefits frozen for three years despite prices currently rising at a rate of 5 per cent – and much faster for those on lower income.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Employment support allowance, which helps those who’ve paid into the national insurance scheme and have become unable to work through disability, limited to 12 months.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘The poorest and most vulnerable will suffer most from cuts. The worst-hit of all will be low-income single mothers from black and ethnic minority backgrounds who suffer from mental of physical disability.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
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PENSIONERS
‘Winter fuel allowance for the over 80s is to be slashed by £100 and for under 80s by £50 later this year. This is despite the fact more than 25,000 pensioners died of cold-related illnesses last winter.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘Pension credit is being frozen for four years from 2011, leaving 1.7 million pensioner households an average of £3.20 a week worse off.’ (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
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HEALTH
‘Over 50,000 NHS workers already face the chop including nurses and doctors. And the number’s rising’. (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
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TAX
‘Corporation tax is to be reduced to 23 per cent by 2014. In the US and Japan, profits are taxed at 40 and 41 per cent respectively’. (Morning Star, 26/3/11).
‘As much as £120 billion a year – 50 per cent more than the supposed savings from cuts – is estimated to be lost each year as a result of avoidance and evasion by big firms and the wealthy.’ (Morning Star)
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