Tucked away on my news feed is a report of a speech made in Manchester by the architect of “austerity”, George Osborne.
For those of us who have enjoyed the prosperity that our economic recovery has brought, austerity may seem a stranger.
But for those struggling to deal with the impact of cuts on their local services and their benefits, austerity is all too real.
They will read these words with mixed emotions
In a speech (Osborne) said, given the effects of the referendum vote, the government had to be “realistic about achieving a surplus by the end of the decade”.
The target had been the chancellor’s most prized goal and had been driving austerity measures in previous budgets.
But he said the economy is showing “clear signs” of shock following the vote to leave the European Union.
“The referendum is expected to produce a significant negative economic shock to our economy. How we respond will determine the impact on jobs and growth.
“We must provide fiscal credibility, continuing to be tough on the deficit while being realistic about achieving a surplus by the end of the decade.”
There is a sub-text in this, and expect it to be played out over the next few weeks. The architecture of austerity has been undermined by the left who have sabotaged Osborne’s plans which otherwise would have brought them great benefit.
- The poor have brought this on themselves
- They have been allowed to do this by a supine Labour Government that did little to tell their poor what to do.
- If only people had done as they were told, everything would have been alright.
This is more or less why Osborne and Cameron lost the referendum. They managed to so alienate a substantial proportion of the electorate that they did the opposite of what they were told.
They did so because they trusted Osborne to act in their worst interest. Far from being “One Nation”, the Conservative party has created a nation divided on almost everything.
If we are to go forward as one nation, we must rid ourselves of the toxic austerity policies and follow a path that is both fairer and more energetic. We need to be expansive and positive, not introvert and negative.
In footballing terms, we need to be Wales – not England.