Budget 2015 outlines ‘clear choice’ for election says Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas
Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Rainham. - Credit: Archant
George Osborne’s Budget outlined a “very clear choice” for people in May, according to Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas.
Speaking just 50 days before the General Election, George Osborne urged voters to reject the “chaos” Labour’s spending would bring yesterday, and stick with a party delivering economic security.
The chancellor outlined a range of measures including a new help-to-buy ISA for first-time home-buyers, a penny off a pint of beer in duty and the introduction of a personal saving allowance.
Although the Tory minister told parliament living standards have risen over the past five years, Mr Cruddas, Labour party policy coordinator, argued otherwise.
“George Osborne spent an hour telling people they have never had it so good,” he said.
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“The truth is that working people are now £1,600 a year worse off after five years of the Tories. “Our NHS both locally and nationally is on its knees and there was no mention of mending it.”
A planned fuel duty increase for September was scrapped while annual paper tax return was fully abolished, in favour of digital alternatives.
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And despite no real mention of the NHS, Mr Cruddas believes the announcements threw down the gauntlet for the upcoming election showdown.
“I think the Budget outlined a very clear choice for people this May,” he added. “People will either get a Tory plan that continues to fail working families.
“A UKIP vision of a privatised NHS, not unlike the Tories; or a Labour future that works for working people, helps struggling families make ends meet and saves our NHS.”
