[ad_1]
Health chiefs, public sector unions and teaching leaders on Saturday expressed concern over the new chancellor. Jeremy Huntappeared to usher in a new era of austerity and more misery for cash-strapped hospitals and schools.
From the first interviews in a wonderful situation Replacing Kwasi Kwarteng on Fridaygiving rise to widespread alarm, promising hunting.”Very difficult decisions” for the government budget.
of NHS The confederation, which represents the health care system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, warned that the prospect of further cuts was “unbelievably dire”.
The head of England and Wales’ biggest teaching union has condemned Hunt’s attempt to put financial markets on the books as a “danger” and “horrendous” for schools, while another teachers’ union, the NASUWT, said deep cuts would cause “immeasurable damage to children’s education”.
Meanwhile, the GMB, which represents more than 500,00 public sector workers The decade of the Tories from 2010 “The British people are being used as lab rats in a terrible Tory economic experiment,” he added, scaring the country and freezing the economy.
of TUCThe 48 member unions, representing 5.5 million workers, were equally angry, warning that if Hunt’s approach took the “axe to essential services”, it would do as much damage to the UK as the widely derided chancellors he replaced.
And UnityWith 1.4 million members, it called for an early election on the back of Hunt’s comments, saying it was “very disappointing that this is the government’s response to the crisis in Downing Street”.
Appearing on Sky News in his first interview as chancellor, Hunt warned that “all government departments need to achieve more efficiency than they plan for”.
Even within his own party, the chancellor may face the direction. Significant opposition. Senior Tory Hunt has already warned he will struggle to get enough parliamentary support for effective cuts to welfare, health or education.
The chancellor warned that if he tried to push through significant austerity measures, he would face as much resistance as Kwarteng.
Many MPs, in “red wall” seats in the Midlands and the North, have vowed to fight any attempt to cut infrastructure spending promised in Hunt’s plans.
It means that while his promise to cut spending could calm a weak market, Hunt faces major parliamentary hurdles to enacting his medium-term budget plan, due at the end of the month.
A senior MP said: “The problem he faces is the same reason Truss said what she said on spending – she knows she can’t get it in the house. “I don’t think he’s any different in that regard. Who would vote for welfare cuts?”
Hunt’s cuts come amid rising inflation and the cost of living.
The Resolution Foundation thinktank calculates that an additional fiscal stimulus of around £20bn-£40bn is likely to be needed to start falling debt.
NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said Hunt, a former health secretary, was aware of the pressures on the organization but warned of a funding gap of up to £20bn by 2024-25.
“The prospect of further cuts and further savings is incredibly unfortunate. If this happens in the 132,000 vacancies, collapsing states and growing waiting lists, we are at a point where a serious discussion is needed about what the NHS can realistically and safely deliver. This is his. [Hunt’s] A moment of truth,” Taylor said.
Meanwhile, the education system is under the same pressure. Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, the largest teaching profession in England and Wales, said: “It’s really worrying. We need more money in schools or it’s going to be cut: headteachers are cutting support staff, cutting hours, asking parents for money for school basics when parents don’t have the money.
That’s where we’re headed, and the way Jeremy Hunt said it makes it all the more terrifying.
NASUWT general secretary Patrick Rock added: “The system is already faltering and further cuts will cause untold damage to children’s futures.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said: “A responsible government will prioritize rebuilding our services after the damage of the last decade of disruption and the pandemic.
Unison general secretary Christina McNea said: “Nobody voted for this. Essential services need investment, not another round of damaging cuts.
“An immediate election is needed to end this economic madness.”
Elsewhere, GMB general secretary Gary Smith added: “The Tories have ruined the economy – now expect working people to pay the price again.” In the year From 2010, savings will be reduced for the NHS, public health and social care He killed tens of thousands of people More than expected in England, a study by the University of York was published last year.
Other impacts include the closure of hundreds of key council services, including youth centres, libraries and subsidized bus routes.
[ad_2]
Source link
