Last week’s budget from George Osborne further served as a reminder that the Tories do not understand the pressures on household budgets. There was no action to deal with the cost of living crisis facing families who are, on average, £1,600 a year worse off under David Cameron.
Working people on middle and lower incomes in Redbridge are not feeling any recovery at all, yet those earning over £150,000 a year have been given a tax cut.
Measures on bingo and beer duty were small fry compared to the rising living costs. You’d have to drink around 280 pints of lager in the George in South Woodford before you’d have saved enough for a free pint.
A Labour budget would have delivered a freeze on energy bills, lower taxes for 24 million working people on middle and low incomes, free childcare for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds and a jobs guarantee to get more young people into work. There is an alternative.
Wes Streeting, Labour parliamentary candidate for Ilford North
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here