“..The harsh truth about Tory policies..”
“..(British Tory Leader) Cameron adopts policies which will hurt the poor ..because he’s never known any
The most common complaint against David Cameron is unfair and untrue. Critics keep charging that he has no policies –
– but in truth, now he has dropped his early attempt at kum-bay-ya Conservatism ..
.. Cameron is offering a fairly detailed prospectus.
Unfortunately, it is of policies that will harm Britain.
There is a laboratory where these Tory policies are being played out now.
It is called London.
Boris Johnson said he was a “progressive conservative” who would “help the poor” .. and “green the city”.
One of his first acts in power was to lay off half the people in London government working on lowering the city’s carbon emissions ..
.. and to kick plans to limit pollution levels into the long grass.
One year in, it is clear he has delivered handsomely – for the rich.
He has given them a de facto tax cut by abolishing the extension of the congestion zone to well-heeled west London ..
.. and by abandoning the £25-a-day charge for SUV drivers.
He has paid for it by pushing up costs for the poorest people in London ..
.. ramming up bus fares by 20 per cent.
He has opposed all new regulation on the City of London, and still praises sub-prime mortgages – the cause of the Great Crash of 2008.
Under the Conservative council of Hammersmith and Fulham – named by Cameron as a model for how he will rule – things have gone further.
It has paid for tax cuts by shutting down 12 homeless hostels ..
.. increasing the cost of meals on wheels for poor pensioners by 60 percent ..
.. and suddenly charging disabled people who need home help £12.40 an hour..”
(and..)
“..Of course, the most consequential policies so far cover the economy ..
.. where Cameron is promoting a fringe philosophy rejected by every other elected government.
Most economists believe that when private spending collapses, the Government has to fill the gap in demand by borrowing and spending –
– or a recession turns into a depression.
Yet Cameron says governments must cut spending to pay down the debt .. however bad the economic weather.
The country that has steered out of the recession fastest – China – did precisely the opposite.
It ramped up state spending to 88 per cent of GDP growth.
Even Angela Merkel, who used to share Cameron’s analysis .. was so struck by this she now plans a large debt-funded stimulus.
Professor David Blanchflower – one of the most distinguished economists in Britain –
– says Cameron’s policies mean another million people will lose their jobs.
“It could send the economy crashing into a ten-year depression,” he warns.
It is hard to escape the conclusion that Cameron and George Osborne can adopt policies that are so harmful towards ordinary people and the poor..
.. because they have never really known any..”
go to source/story>>Johann Hari: The harsh truth about Tory policies - Johann Hari, Commentators - The Independent