While the election focus has been on tax, the main parties have been accused of a “conspiracy of silence” over what looks like an inevitable squeeze on some public services after July 4. Even most of the commitments made are quite modest.
Public spending
Burning questions remain as to what the next government will do about the social care crisis, ailing NHS, cost-ofliving, homes shortage, courts system delays, overcrowded prisons, and growing welfare bill.
“The debate on tax and spending policy has been dominated by arguments about how a series of relatively small spending pledges would be funded,” said Resolution Foundation research director James Smith.
“But such debates are a sideshow compared to big questions about how the next government would manage the uncertainties facing the public finances. All this means that the fiscal debate has become detached from the fiscal reality.”
Some £19 billion of cuts to unprotected departments, including justice, the Home Office and local government, are “baked into post-election spending plans,” he added.
Labour is yet to commit to a date to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, with the Tories saying 2030.
Tax
Labour, like the Conservatives, have ruled out increasing income tax, VAT and national insurance. Yet the UK tax burden will grow, partly due to a £10 billion-a-year tax rise for three more years through stealth freezes on personal allowances and thresholds.
Bu hikaye Evening Standard dergisinin July 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Evening Standard dergisinin July 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
"We're building a Spurs squad to compete now. This is not a project for five years time
BACK in December, in the run up to Christmas, Tottenham's technical director Johan Lange travelled to Stockholm on a special assignment. Lange's mission was to persuade Lucas Bergvall, one of the most exciting young players in Europe, to visit Spurs in the New Year.
England's breakthrough star faces biggest challenge yet
Pakistan, the Ashes and fatherhood now lie in wait for Jamie Smith
Bizarre search results, battles in court - is it game over for Google?
RICHARD GODWIN asks if time could finally be running out for the all-powerful behemoth
Finneas
He's won Grammys and Oscars, but his proudest achievement? His relationship with his sister... Billie Eilish
Has this legend of the London restaurant scene lost its cool?
Once upon a time —not so long ago, less than a decade — being a D&D restaurant meant something. Back then, Le Pont de la Tour and Coq d’ Argent were governed by swathes of the most moneyed City regulars; Sartoria offered a hangout on Savile Row as stylish as any of its neighbouring tailors; and Quaglino’s, until recently, was the place mere mortals were most likely to bump into Prince Harry or Mick Jagger.
Message to the Jews
Beware your liberal values those you see as allies are the vultures waiting for your demise
Are these the 18 ways that we could transform London?
The capital could actually be good, but we need some radical new rules
Change or die... London's eternal lesson to us all
Like the city it serves, the new Standard must build on the best of the past
The Tories are their own unique brand of special
Like Republicans, they're on a journey, but it couldn't be more different
Plane truths...the world's most loved and loathed airlines
From endless delays and frightening mishaps to delightful cabin crew, the differences between airlines can be astonishing. So which ones rule the air and which dontimpress?