"Today's Budget announcement by the Chancellor was a catastrophic missed opportunity to bring economic justice to the millions suffering the consequences of 14 years of brutal and crushing austerity.
Peace & Justice Project has consistently called for investment in public services, including a pay rise for all workers. It is incredibly disappointing to see this realistic policy once again ignored whilst millions of people live in working poverty amidst the sharpest decline in living standards since records began.
It is also deeply concerning to hear the Labour Party in opposition parrot the tired "maxing out the credit card" line in response to the Chancellor's statement. Our communities have suffered under austerity politics for many years. Fair pay for all workers and investment in the sustainability of our planet is wholly achievable - it is often the necessary political will that is missing.
In our Budget 2024 preview written by Lord Prem Sikka, we called on the Chancellor to save the NHS through taxation on corporations and those with the broadest shoulders to support this vital public service, which has been driven to literal breaking point through years of Conservative mismanagement and creeping privatisation.
“Our communities have suffered under austerity politics for many years. Fair pay for all workers and investment in the sustainability of our planet is wholly achievable - it is often the necessary political will that is missing.”
The reduction in National Insurance contributions announced by the Chancellor today will, without significant investment, put further strain on struggling public services. We also note with grave concern that 17.8 million adults in the UK have taxable income of less than £12,570 and will therefore receive no benefit from a cut in National Insurance contributions. For economic justice, it is these people that the government should seek to support.
The fact that they haven't is a grotesque failure.
With less purchasing power given to the British people, the high streets of our towns and cities will face further decimation. This will have devastating consequences for many grassroots music venues and community spaces up and down the country. Our Music For The Many campaign has called on the government to secure a sustainable future for our the arts through the creation of a Grassroots Music Venue Fund, paid for by a small levy on ticket sales at large music arenas with corporate sponsorship. Without significant back from the government, we face the very real risk of losing an entire generation of artists to austerity and cuts to our communities.
We also condemn the Chancellor's cynical pre-election giveaways to many of his Conservative colleagues and investment in further impeding of our civil liberties whilst many face desperate housing insecurity. Britain's growing housing crisis can only be solved through the undertaking of the greatest council house building programme in generations. The government must empower our councils to end the cruel reality of rough sleeping faced by thousands on our streets and bring an end to the cycle of renting exploitation by many landlords up and down the country.
To ensure economic justice, the next government is going to need to have a fairer tax system. Today's Budget and response from the Labour Party offers very little hope in the way of achieving it.
Last year, Peace & Justice Project set out its 5 Demands for a real alternative to the misery faced by millions, which laid the foundations of building a world of peace and social justice. We will continue campaigning for an economy that works for the many, not just the few.