Labour mess is the usual tactical LIE

Labour mess is the usual tactical LIE On 20 February we voted on the 2019-20 budget plans of our Tory-led county council. And you’ll hear them saying that, because the Labour-led council couldn’t manage their money, they’ve had to set a stringent budget to get us out of the mess left by Labour. If for one minute you think this is true, can I point you to the council’s own document which said the Labour-led council did not leave the council in debt. The council’s report has even been externally verified by auditors Ernst and Young. Labour not being able to manage its money is an urban myth put around by the Tories so you’ll be lulled into a false sense of security by thinking they will look after the money better. I have to tell you; this is just not true. Actually it’s illegal to set an unbalanced budget, so whoever was running the council would not be allowed to do this. It doesn’t stop our friends throwing these accusations around though. It’s so predictable and it’s so untrue. It’s the decisions made by the Tories since they came to power that have resulted in a financial back hole.  The difference between us and the Tories is how we prioritise what’s spent. It’s a purely moral decision in my view. Look after your rich friends and put poor and vulnerable people under even more pressure; theirs. Try and look after all our residents in a more compassionate way by minimising cuts where possible and maintaining services for poor and vulnerable people; ours. We’re in the middle of budget discussions and it’s depressing. Things that look glaringly obvious to me are just overlooked by our Tory council. The plans are being made by people who wouldn’t know hardship if it hit them in the face and who think if someone’s poor it’s their own fault. It might just be worth going back to basics here and asking what local authorities are actually for. In 2015 the government itself said local authorities are responsible for providing an extensive range of public services. In addition, they are there to promote the interests of their local community, including the social, economic, environmental, recreational, cultural, community or general development of their area. We would do well to remember this. It might just be me but I can’t see how any of their plans could ever promote the interests of the community. Nearly half the 315,000 people living in our county live in rural areas. Many have no transport and are miles away from an appropriate tip. So, say our Tory friends, let’s charge them more to have big items of waste collected. The other half live in our towns, some of which enjoy health and wealth while others do not. There are pockets of comfort and pockets of deprivation everywhere. Some have good public transport links, some do not. Some have high levels of car ownership; some don’t. Some have plenty of resources to eat well and heat their homes; some have to make the choice between eating and heating. Call me old fashioned but my idea of running a council properly is to support the poorest and most vulnerable, build communities, support organisations that help local people, provide leisure and cultural activities, provide our children with the best education we can give them, take care of older and vulnerable people and generally make the county a great place for everyone who lives in it. I don’t get this sense from the Tories. What I get is take away support to charities and not-for-profit organisations which support poor and vulnerable people. Oh, and while we’re at it, let’s pass on the costs of closing roads and other measures which need to be put in place for local events (measures which we say are necessary!) to anyone organising an event. And while we’re at that, why don’t we increase the cost of burials and cremations? So let’s put a further hit on these costs at what is already a very difficult and costly time. If you didn’t know better you’d think the Tories had utter contempt for the people they’re supposed to be serving. The Northumberland Labour group has been working on an alternative budget. And it adds up. In our budget we would pledge to: • use your money properly, dealing with the massive Tory CUTS in Northumberland. We would prioritise money where it’s most needed. Our costed plan is different to the Tories • protect our most vulnerable people by NOT increasing Care Charges and restore the Council Tax Support for the most vulnerable • protect the Youth Services for young Northumbrians • maintain the cost of waste collection to reduce fly tipping and encourage recycling • build low cost rental homes in areas of need through Advance Northumberland • support those in need by ensuring proper investment is provided to support low paid workers and families claiming Universal Credit I am a very proud resident of Northumberland and I consider it a privilege to serve local people. I want to make sure all the people living in our county feel their council is working for them, not just a chosen few.