Salford Labour Party Website

In a little reported speech to the think tank magazine Fabian Review, Ian Duncan Smith, former Tory Party Leader admitted that the “Right to buy” policy had condemned thousands to be excluded from economic prosperity. Moreover, in the same speech, he drew attention to the fact that “sink” estates had been created through this process. He went on to say (referring to the Right to buy policy), “….. we did not have any real sense of where this might go and what needed to happen. Big social reforms should have taken place then, and they never did.”

Noting that Ian Duncan Smith is the founder of  the Centre for Social Justice and that David Cameron recognises that organisation’s central role in developing the Conservative Party’s social policy then we not only have re-positioning but attempts to present a Tory Party completely different from that of Margaret Thatcher. In doing so it has to be recognised by the Conservatives that this policy failure further divided the nation rather than being a cause for greater unity.

In reviewing that failed policy, in social terms, it is worth assessing whether there was ever any intention of combining the right to buy with social reform. Certainly there is no evidence! The economic structures imposed by the last Conservative government meant:
those properties that were desirable would be purchased,  those that could afford it would buy, those properties which were undesirable would not be purchased, those occupying undesirable properties would be those at greatest financial disadvantage. Moreover the declining availability of public housing meant that (increasingly) such a tenancy would only be a prospect for the most disadvantaged.

Now the real question is: “has the leopard changed its spots?”. Looking at the Conservative Party’s Spring Forum in Cheltenham last weekend (24th to 26th April) the answer is a resounding no! Talking about the 50p tax rate Boris Johnson said; “If you tell [the best talent] you are going to take considerably more of their money away than they could expect in the competitor capitals, that’s a poke in the eye for London.”. George Osborne (Shadow Chancellor) said he thought that higher tax rates discouraged enterprise and damage economic activity. All this against grumbling Members who believe the Conservative Party is nothing if it is not tax cutting. So the leopard is only going to have a makeover and if and when elected will resume its carniverous habits and look after the rich and pretend disadvantage does not exist. Don’t let them get away with it!

Keith Mann
28th April 2009

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I make no apologies for plagiarising John Prescott’s blog. He has a valid point.! I quote:

“At Cheltenham Racecourse (I’m saying nothing) the Tories will be gathering for their spring conference, no doubt salivating at the prospect of introducing such progressive policies as fox hunting and the extension of grammar schools.

And who will be their star turn? Only the new poster boy of Fox News and the Republican Right – Daniel Hannan. You’ll remember he was the MEP who ambushed Gordon at the European Parliament and then had the clip promoted and watched by right wing bloggers across the UK and the US (bit of an echo chamber I think.

I’m sure Cameron will be delighted to see his conference give a standing ovation to this rabidly right wing neocon who believes the NHS was a ‘60 year mistake’ and made people ‘iller.’

I called on Cameron to ‘back him or sack him.’ No surprise at his decision. The frightening thing is that most Tories fully agree with Hannan not their leader. This is why Go Fourth will continue to unmask the real face of ‘Caring Conservatism.’”

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I wanted to write to you to set out the purpose of my Budget today and how it supports our Labour values.

This budget is about building Britain’s future. As you know we’re living in difficult times. The world is suffering its worst economic crisis for over 60 years, and the impact of the global recession is being felt in every continent, country and community.

Our economy has enormous strengths. The British people have remarkable qualities so I am confident we will get through this, and Britain will be a world leader in the industries of the future.

My budget today has two main purposes.

First, there will be help now to get people, especially young people, quickly back into work, and support businesses and homeowners facing problems.

Second, we will support investment in the growth industries of the future on which Britain’s suc cess will be built.

History shows we can only grow our way out of recession. Not try to cut our way out as the Conservative party propose.

Despite the difficulties we, and every country, face I expect our economy to start growing again towards the end of the year.  But, that is because we have taken action to help people and businesses now.

In November, I brought in a range of measures to help the country through recession, putting £20bn back into the economy when it was needed most. This help is coming through now – from an income tax and VAT cut.

I know people are worried about their jobs so I am going to help them get back into work as quickly as possible. We won’t turn our back on people in difficulties.  We’ve seen only too often the result when that happens. Short term job loss can become a lifetime on benefits.

This is particularly damaging for young people. So I am going to guarantee that everyone under the age of 25, who has been out of work for 12 months, will be offered a job or place in training.  In the 1980s a whole generation of young people were lost to work.  We must make sure that this never happens again.

Pensioners are also feeling the impact of the economic downturn. So I have increased help – an increased winter fuel payment, worth £250 for over 60s and £400 for the over eighties, for another year.

I know many pensioners rely on their savings for extra income.  Interest rates at very low levels are good news for homeowners but I know that’s not the case for savers.

So I have increased the help for those in retirement with modest savings through Pension Credit.  And I am increasing the limit for tax-free savings through ISAs to £10,200 – of which £5,100 can be saved in cash.

We’re helping business too because its business that creates jobs and wealth. So there is targeted support for business, to help them now and prepare for the recovery.

We want to help them build on our strengths, investing in the green and growth industries of the future, creating new jobs and helping secure our country’s success.

We are doing this while taking the tough decisions needed to balance the nation’s books and protect investment in the key public services on which we all depend.

As countries around the world are showing, it is right to borrow to help get through these tough times.  But it is also right to put our finances on a sustainable footing.

Every decision I made in the budget was underpinned by fairness. That is why the burden of paying for the investment will fall on those who can afford it most.  No-one earning less than £100,000 will have to pay more income tax because I wanted to protect those on modest or middle incomes.

The measure in the budget will help us deal with the economic difficulties. We have confidence to invest in the recovery. That’s why my budget will support jobs, families, businesses and the environment.

Despite all the difficulties we face I am confident about the future of our country. I am determined we will get through this and confident we can build a Better Britain for us all.

Best wishes

Alistair

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From Alistair Darling

Labour’s Budget – Building Britain’s Future – is a Budget for jobs and targeted investment in a stronger recovery.

Labour is investing now so we are best placed to take advantage of the upturn. We believe that we should grow our way out of recession not cut our way out of recession.

The action Labour has already taken will protect half a million jobs in Britain, and is providing real help for people and businesses in every region.

We will prepare the British economy for the jobs of the future. Whether it be the advent of a low carbon economy, advanced manufacturing or biosciences Britain will be ready to share in this prosperity so that every person in Britain benefits.

Today’s Budget announces:

* Supporting people back into work with an extra £1.7 billion in Jobcentre Plus.

* Supporting 18-24 year olds with a guaranteed job, training or work placement for all who reach 12 months unemployment.

* Supporting pensioners with an additional payment alongside the Winter Fuel Payment worth £100 for households with someone aged over 80 and £50 for households with someone aged over 60

* Supporting savers by raising the tax free Individual Saving Accounts (ISAs) limit to over £10,000.

* Supporting families with children by increasing the Child Tax Credit by £20 a year from April 2010.

* Supporting those made redundant by increasing statutory redundancy pay to £380 per week.

* Supporting homeowners with a £600 million funding package to build more homes through unlocking sites currently sitting dormant

* Supporting the housing market by extending the stamp duty holiday to the end of the year for properties under £175,000.

* Supporting business by extending the Business Payment Support Service to help businesses experiencing short-term cash-flow difficulties.

* Supporting the automotive industry by enabling people who scrap vehicles older than ten years to replace them with new vehicles at a discount of £2,000.

David Cameron’s Conservatives do nothing but talk Britain down and would cut support for families during these tough economic times. They are alone in believing that we should not grow our way out of recession but cut our way out of recession.

Read the full text of the Budget Statement here:

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Councillor King & Councillor Mullen, were going to formulate a motion on the decline of bee’s. We are pleased that we have been headed off at the pass by the announcement today that our government is to invest £10 million in research. This is money well invested as the consequence of none/poor pollination would be disastrous.  Read more about it by clicking here:

BUT what more can we do in Salford? I am confident that, when asked,  this Labour administration will look at cost effective ways of increasing the number of hives, safely and in a place where they can thrive. We have space on Barton moss, Buile Hill and other large green sites, where Salford Labour, when engaged,  will put it’s creativity to work. So the future should be buzzin’ with Labour.

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