I READ with great interest Lesley Riddoch’s dissection of Sunak’s budget statement (Ignore the spin, Sunak is turning the UK into a high-tax economy, Mar 24). It laid before us the stark reality of a totally out-of-touch politician with absolutely no idea “how the other half live”. Play-acting to his braying supporters and vying unashamedly for the “top job”, with the present incumbent grinning beside him seemingly unaware (more likely couldn’t care less) of the economic devastation and social disaster engulfing most of the people of this beleaguered nation.
Watching the Tory front bench, it was clear that here was a group of well-heeled individuals who were a million miles away from the disastrous cost-of-living tsunami already creating levels of poverty not seen since the 1930s. Much time can be spent examining closely the details of this budget statement. What is the point? When you have an economy suffering from inflation levels not seen since the 1970s (possibly 8%+) and wage levels increases at 3.1% you do not have to be an economist to work out that this is a recipe for savings losing value, prices rising and living standards falling. This would be bad enough, but the Tories with their hands on the economic levers seem to be totally oblivious of the clear economic and social disaster staring them in the face.
READ MORE: Chancellor Rishi Sunak's ‘sleight of hand’ could see him taking more tax
Instead of recognising the plight of our citizens and their families and providing a budget full of fiscal measures which alleviates the obvious spiralling costs and price increases and supports those on low incomes, working or otherwise, with increased welfare and social benefits, Sunak unbelievably has made the situation far worse. The manipulation of tax changes nothing other than making the tax burden higher for us all in the coming years. In fact, the level of taxes introduced through “stealth” make the UK one of the highest-taxed economies in the world. Why do the Tories not see this!
Not only do they not recognise the dire straits our economy is presently in, they tell us that this budget will reverse our economic fortunes. People right now are not only in despair at the plight they find themselves in but angry with the government, politicians, big business, the elite and those who clearly are exploiting the system for their own profit. How much will people take of this situation until change is demanded, and how will it manifest itself? Already people cannot pay their bills. Use of food banks is at the highest levels ever. Charities are drowning in requests for support, and claimants for social security support at every level have never been higher.
READ MORE: Chancellor Rishi Sunak should try living with some real people
How long before we see social unrest, a disintegration of our social services and complete contempt for the broken democratic institutions that we have so patiently put up with for too long? Top of the list is the pointless, broken Westminster parliament that on a daily basis meanders along with the never-ending debates, shrouded in archaic procedures and customs, held together by pomp and entitlement, aided and abetted by our elected politicians, many of whom see it as the best “gravy train” going. Sadly, the population looks on in disbelief, dejection and indifference and then turns to their own reality, wondering how they are going to feed their families, heat their homes and whether they can afford the soaring cost of transport. More so in Scotland where our Holyrood parliament on a daily basis attempts to use its scarce resources to mitigate the Tory economic shambles.
It is recognised that Scotland is treading a different path, with the needs of our people at the centre of political decision-making. This is the time for the people of Scotland to take stock of the Tory chaos around them and take that final step towards independence.
Dan Wood
Kirriemuir
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