Opportunities lost in Autumn statement

Twelve years to get it right, and still they let people down, says Northumberland Labour

Many people will have been eagerly awaiting the Chancellor’s Autumn statement. As it turned out it was another slap in the face for Northumbrians.

Leader Scott Dickinson said: “This government has been in power for 12 years. Over that time we’ve seen millions of children ending up in poverty, working people relying on foodbanks, a lack or complete absence of social housing, hospital waiting times and lists rising and a crisis in social care.

“This is not, as the Tories suggest, a result of the pandemic or the invasion of Ukraine. Since they came into power they have systematically stripped resources from our much loved services. They deliberately put ordinary people in a bad place and the pandemic and the war in Ukraine only made it worse. They blamed the situation on everyone but themselves but it is they, over 12 years, who have turned their backs on ordinary people who create the wealth in the country.

“Britain has so much potential. But right now we’re facing a Tory economic crisis that’s holding us back.

“After today, people will be asking themselves: am I and my family better off with the Tories? The answer is no. The mess we are in is a result of 12 years of Conservative economic failure. Labour has a long-term plan we need to get our economy growing again, powered by the talent and effort of millions of working people and thousands of businesses: