The UK’s burgeoning “gig economy”, which often relies on exploitative zero-hour contracts and questionable definitions of self-employment, will cost the Treasury £3.5bn in 2020/21, new figures show….Read more…
Care for the NHS
Just days after chancellor Phillip Hammond hardly bothered to mention the NHS in his Autumn Statement, the Labour party launched a major campaign on Saturday (November 26) in support of the…Read more…
‘Downright immoral’
During his first autumn statement Chancellor Phillip Hammond told MPs he would not be reading out a list of pet plans – except for one. “I have deliberately avoided turning this…Read more…
More wasted years?
In the middle of the political wreckage left by the referendum to leave the European Union the Autumn Statement was delivered by a new Chancellor for a new Prime Minister, but the message was clear –…Read more…
An Autumn Statement for Everyone? Looks like we’ll have to wait for spring
Last week we set out five tests for the Chancellor to meet for an Autumn Statement that works for everyone. Here’s how we think he’s done. Test 1: Set out a plan for a Brexit that protects working people’s jobs and rights. As the OBR make clear, Brexit is the biggest factor affecting the economy…Read more…
#AutumnStatement Universal Credit changes won’t make up for cuts that hit families and low-paid workers
The Chancellor’s announcement of a small cut in the Universal Credit taper rate goes nowhere near making up for the cuts his predecessor announced in July 2015, which will leave many low-paid working families hundreds – even thousands – of pounds worse off a year. As the End Child…Read more…
More money for housing in Autumn Statement – but also more Right To Buy
This afternoon in the #AutumnStatement Philip Hammond announced a number of measures that go some way to addressing the crisis we are facing in both the private and rented housing sectors. These include: A Housing Infrastructure Fund of £2.3bn by 2020-2021, funded by the NPIF (National Productivity…Read more…
Productivity and the #AutumnStatement: an antidote to Brexit?
Philip Hammond committed to raising productivity in today’s Autumn Statement. A National Productivity Investment Fund worth £23bn will focus on infrastructure, including digital communications, and research and development. £23bn sounds like a lot of money; as Geoff has blogged elsewhere, it is…Read more…
NHS and social care funding crisis completely missing from #AutumnStatement
“Departments will continue to deliver overall spending plans set at the Spending Review 2015” That was how the Chancellor used the Autumn Statement to respond to the crisis in our NHS and social care services. The NHS, deep in funding crisis, wasn’t mentioned once –…Read more…
JAM tomorrow? Not much in the Autumn Statement for those Just About Managing
In the last few days the press has been full of claims that this afternoon’s autumn financial statement would be all about the ‘just about managing’. This was the first chance for the new Conservative leadership to show how they would build an ‘economy that works for everyone’ and to turn Theresa…Read more…
And the cuts go on
The new Tory government under the leadership of Theresa May has sought to distinguish itself from its predecessor by claiming time and again to be on the side of working people – or in the latest…Read more…
#AutumnStatement minimum wage rises leave 21 to 24 year olds £450 a year out of pocket
The government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations and will increase all national minimum wage rates from 1st April 2017. The government’s national living wage (introduced in April of this year) will go up by 4.2%, a 30p increase, to £7.50 an hour. That’s good, but there’s a fly…Read more…
All too little
Chancellor Philip Hammond has failed to throw a lifeline to those on low wages or to demonstrate that this government will lay the solid economic foundations needed for a successful Brexit. Unite…Read more…
The Chancellor has ignored social care and the NHS will pay the price, says UNISON
Commenting on the complete absence of help in the Autumn Statement for social care or the NHS, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Hopes were raised the Chancellor would conjure up extra…Read more…
Autumn Statement: The government is spreading the ‘jam’ far too thinly
Aside from those on the very lowest wages, the pay misery for school, hospital and town hall staff goes on. The government’s stubborn refusal to end the one per cent pay cap means wages are lagging…Read more…
#AutumnStatement: Working people are facing a hit of £1000 per year by 2020
The OBR figures released today for the Autumn Statement showed lower economic growth translating into lower wage growth for the next four years. On top of this, weaker sterling has translated into significantly higher inflation, especially in 2017. For…Read more…
The government has spread the ‘jam’ far too thinly, says UNISON
Commenting on the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement today (Wednesday) UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Despite all the rhetoric, the previous Chancellor’s austerity plan is still very much…Read more…
The #AutumnStatement chose corporate tax cuts over the pay rise Britain’s workers need
In the details of Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement came a worrying confirmation for those of us campaigning for a pay rise for Britain’s workforce. The Autumn Statement’s accompanying OBR forecast shows that the average annual wage will be £1,000 lower in 2020 than predicted at…Read more…
‘Pothole’ nation?
Speculation over what chancellor Phillip Hammond will unveil in his Autumn Statement on Wednesday (November 23) is running high, but one thing is certain – infrastructure spending will be a top…Read more…
‘We are all Daniel Blake’ protest
Members of Unite Community’s West London branch will stage a ‘We are all Daniel Blake’ protest outside four west London job centres tomorrow (November 23) from 11am, as part of a day of action…Read more…