The political policies adopted by the Tories both locally and nationally are beginning to financially crush communities and individuals.
- Work undertaken recently by the Trade Unions, GMB and UNISON along with a research survey from SAGA and members views from Age UK show that residents fear the rises in everyday costs and despise the increase in bills brought on through politically motivated Conservative Councils increased costs to the public supposedly designed to offset austerity that are seriously damaging their ability to feel they can ‘pay their way’ in society.
Daily bills such as higher Council taxes, the increasing
costs of care, public transport costs, phone contract increases, dental charges
and now the ‘never ending need to self fund TV licences’ however old and frail
or socially isolated you become are felt to be unaffordable by 2021.
Combining all of the reports together, almost three quarters
of working age employees in the public sector and four fifths of OAP’s believe
they will struggle to cope if the cost of living continues to rise at its
current rate following eight years of public sector pay restraint and the
triple lock although helping pensioners, is not keeping inflationary pressures
at bay for the elderly.
The worry factor that is dividing Britain and creating a huge ‘underclass’ is fuelled by the rapid rise in costs of supermarket food shopping, higher utility bills and massively rising housing costs not helped by Councils who have driven up charges and slashed benefits on a myriad of items particularly over the last two years, and when coupled with the huge cost of hospital parking charges or the public transport costs of rationalised care changes through once locally organised care becoming ever more regionalised. The loss of local maternity units and the lack of Community Midwives being cited as a huge fincial burden on young families.
SAGA who in their report explained rising insurance costs were an additional fear factor with the over 50’s twice as concerned as younger people on that issue but they also explained that more than half of those surveyed believe their incomes will not keep pace with rising prices over the next three years with the same proportion being forced to change their shopping habits due to crippling price hikes.
Another one third of people believe they will have to change the way they shop and will struggle greatly if prices rise further.
Industries such as entertainment and catering are already feeling the heat with GMB stating their members find their social lives curtailed through the hike in household costs.
In Northumberland its Conservative Council forced up Council Tax, cut housing benefit, increased the cost of care, slashed grant aid to the voluntary and charitable sector, have missed out on starting decent homes two for its Council tenants.
Commentators have pointed towards the stoppage of huge domestic housing schemes including a Garden Village that would have brought in regular annual revenue, the spend of massive amounts of cash to protect its members and top officers from litigation and the weaknesses of the link with the NHS and its Clinical Commissioning Group which through poor management and lack of risk appraisal from the Tories forced through the necessity for a tax rise. The Council has no plans to offset the cuts and ensure further tax rises are not required and are losing legal claims on a regular and ongoing basis. This all adds up as a driver or catalyst for the exacerbation of many families’ financial problems in the County.
The dreadful uncertainty regarding price rises means even those who have the capability to plan and budget for their household costs are finding it harder and harder as the huge variation in particularly food prices mean that in seeking the offers available from various shops, that the savings are offset in travel costs to harvest those savings. Many now believe its an ever decreasing circle that only Councils and a Government who embrace price fixing can resolve. The various reports do show however that people living near thriving markets don’t feel as pressured as those who’s markets have failed.
But in a nation where the top seven per cent of earners have made an additional £60Bn pound in the last eight months ordinary people feel left out and alone also through the Tories introduction of Universal Credit, without a welfare state to pick up the pieces.
The worry factor that is dividing Britain and creating a huge ‘underclass’ is fuelled by the rapid rise in costs of supermarket food shopping, higher utility bills and massively rising housing costs not helped by Councils who have driven up charges and slashed benefits on a myriad of items particularly over the last two years, and when coupled with the huge cost of hospital parking charges or the public transport costs of rationalised care changes through once locally organised care becoming ever more regionalised. The loss of local maternity units and the lack of Community Midwives being cited as a huge fincial burden on young families.
SAGA who in their report explained rising insurance costs were an additional fear factor with the over 50’s twice as concerned as younger people on that issue but they also explained that more than half of those surveyed believe their incomes will not keep pace with rising prices over the next three years with the same proportion being forced to change their shopping habits due to crippling price hikes.
Another one third of people believe they will have to change the way they shop and will struggle greatly if prices rise further.
Industries such as entertainment and catering are already feeling the heat with GMB stating their members find their social lives curtailed through the hike in household costs.
In Northumberland its Conservative Council forced up Council Tax, cut housing benefit, increased the cost of care, slashed grant aid to the voluntary and charitable sector, have missed out on starting decent homes two for its Council tenants.
Commentators have pointed towards the stoppage of huge domestic housing schemes including a Garden Village that would have brought in regular annual revenue, the spend of massive amounts of cash to protect its members and top officers from litigation and the weaknesses of the link with the NHS and its Clinical Commissioning Group which through poor management and lack of risk appraisal from the Tories forced through the necessity for a tax rise. The Council has no plans to offset the cuts and ensure further tax rises are not required and are losing legal claims on a regular and ongoing basis. This all adds up as a driver or catalyst for the exacerbation of many families’ financial problems in the County.
The dreadful uncertainty regarding price rises means even those who have the capability to plan and budget for their household costs are finding it harder and harder as the huge variation in particularly food prices mean that in seeking the offers available from various shops, that the savings are offset in travel costs to harvest those savings. Many now believe its an ever decreasing circle that only Councils and a Government who embrace price fixing can resolve. The various reports do show however that people living near thriving markets don’t feel as pressured as those who’s markets have failed.
But in a nation where the top seven per cent of earners have made an additional £60Bn pound in the last eight months ordinary people feel left out and alone also through the Tories introduction of Universal Credit, without a welfare state to pick up the pieces.
