So much has been gutted from our public services over the last 10 years. Some extra crumbs given from Westminster and the Tory/DUP coalition want us to suck it up. We are not having it. We need proper investment that protects our public services and reverses the reckless austerity that has done some much damage to our communities. This money barely scratches the surface.
Of great surprise has been no extra money for Education allocated. Classroom assistants, teachers and pupils with special needs are still being denied proper investment with the whole education system suffering as a result.
This budget further cements the pay cap for workers and slaps another fee onto households with the 4.5% rates increase. Pay has not increased with workers facing a real term slashing of pay and rates will increase alongside council rates already going up will be a further burden for people. The Tories rotten ideology thinks it is ok to increase rates while further cutting worker’s pay.
Quite rightly people will be skeptical about the DUP having its hands on “extra money”. We know their record with RHI, SIF and other initiatives. Any money should be spent in areas of need rather than going towards pet projects for the DUP or Loyalist paramilitaries.
We need to bring down this nasty Tory/ DUP coalition government and have a budget which tackles tax evasion, corporate fraud and moves toward a society which looks after working and poor people and not the super wealthy.”
