TUC- Liz Truss has already broken promise not to cut public services

Responding to Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s comments today (Monday) that spending on public services will not rise in line with inflation, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“The Prime Minister promised during her leadership campaign there would be no return to austerity.

“But that pledge now appears in tatters.

“If spending on public services does not rise in line with inflation, schools, hospitals and other vital services face a massive black hole in their budgets.

“That would be devastating for communities across the country.

“Public services have already been cut to the bone by successive Conservative governments. There is nothing to trim.

“If Liz Truss pushes ahead with another round of savage cuts this would be a huge betrayal of the British people and proof that her word counts for nothing.”

On the political choices the government is making, Frances added:

“The government is choosing to slash funding for our public services, at the same time as handing tax breaks to wealthy companies.

“Ministers are transferring money away from vital services to boost corporate profits.”

On Thursday 18 union heads penned an open letter to Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng calling for an urgent meeting amid fears of another “crippling round of austerity this November”.

The union leaders called on the Prime Minister and Chancellor to provide a “cast-iron assurance” they will not make further spending cuts to public services.