Most people don’t realise that so-far less than 30% of the Conservative-led Government’s cuts have been implemented. To date, most of the cuts have only caused minimal concern and hardship. This is changing.
In the last couple of weeks, we have heard that 7 out of the 9 Remploy factories in Wales are to close. The Government argue that more resources will be set aside to help give Remploy workers a chance to secure mainstream employment. We all know that this will not happen. Because we are in an economic recession unemployment is getting worse and if employers have vacancies they will probably choose able bodied workers rather than people who have disabilities. So, in reality, the Government is consigning most Remploy workers to a life on benefit.
Another consequence of central government cuts is the announcement this week that most of Gwent’s Police Stations are to, at least, lose their counter services for the public. Although there are indications that Gwent Police are now prepared to hold some consultation with the public, nevertheless it is clear that Gwent Police are being forced by central government to make draconian cuts in policing. Over the past few years, Gwent Police have correctly re-orientated their policing towards the community. Neighbourhood policing has become the order of the day: I am determined to defend this.
Also in the pipeline are cuts in tax credits on top of the benefits changes which are slowly but surely being implemented. In my advice surgeries, I am now seeing regularly individuals who have been in receipt of Incapacity Benefit now being reassessed as fit for work. This is causing great stress to people who have clear mental health problems and yet they have been declared fit for work.
In a few days time, we have the Budget. As usual, there are all sorts of rumours and briefings about what will be in that Budget. But one thing is clear – it will not be a Budget to help ordinary people. Quite the opposite. If the speculation is accurate, the Government is likely to scrap the 50p tax rate. The people of course who will benefit from this will be the very rich. That says it all.
Wayne David
Labour MP for Caerphilly
The Conservative Party will never shake off their tag for being a Party for the rich if the measures which are being rumoured come into force. Reducing the top rate of tax gets the right wingers out of bed in the morning but very few people living Caerphilly, Islwyn and Rhymney will benefit. The Government are going out of their way to re – distribute money from the poor to the rich and its a shameful way to run the country.
What should be in the budget should be a permanent reduction in VAT (a tax which hits everybody especially the poorest), some real measures to counter tax avoidance, investment in creating jobs for young people and an increase in the minimum wage to at least £7 an hour to make work pay. They should shelve their discredited health reforms immediately and tax bankers bonuses to free up needed capital.
Wayne David MP is said by the leader of the House of Commons to be `On The Warpath` over certain issues.
The issues James mention above are also matters which I am sure occupy Wayne`s mind every minute of every day as our elected MP.
But, I hold the view that `All Politics is Local` and there are many more local issues which occupy the minds of citizens of Caerphilly borough Council, lets hope those who aspire to represent us in the Caerphilly council Chamber, i.e. ALL those candidates who will soon be walking the streets knocking our doors ( or not as has become more common of late) asking for our valuable support for them and their parties, will be recognising what these local issues are, and, much more important, what they can do about them if they are elected as Councillors, they can`t, in fact, do much about Income Tax levels, National, endemic Youth unemployment, or, the right and left mix of national politics.
Lets hope we hear more about what Local Election candidates can and will do about `Local Political Issues` if they are elected to Caerphilly Council in May.The local mews wires are short of such information.