Wherever you lie on the political spectrum, the news that today Britain left recession must be welcomed the nation over. We now know that the measures taken by Gordon Brown stopped a recession becoming a depression. If we all cast back our minds to last September and October, it is easy to forget how it seemed bank after bank would disappear into a never-ending black hole, along with our savings, our jobs, our pensions, and our homes. Today not only have we come out of recession, but polls show our fear of losing our home, fear of losing our livelihood, fear of losing our jobs are all massively down on where they were this time last year.
Now as we see our economy return to growth, albeit mild, the question will be about the deficit and how we manage it. Yes we need to tackle the deficit, but Cameron’s plans are simply dangerous. For all the talk of debt, we need to remember the level of borrowing is still lower than France, lower than Germany, and lower than the US, and his promise to slash the deficit in half in two rather than four years, is the kind of dangerous policy that could put us back into recession. The kind of sums we are talking about are simply staggering. We are talking the equivalent of slashing the national education budget by a half or raising VAT to 23%.
It is all too easy to believe we need change, but if ever there was a case to be careful what you wish for – now is that time. Apart from not wanting that sort of VAT rise or that sort of attack on education, I fear the kind of economic impact that would have on each and every family here in West Oxfordshire.
We just need to look at the unemployment figures today compared to the unemployment figures when Cameron himself was Special Adviser to Norman Lamont. For those of us who remember – and I do – there’s a reason why that recession felt worse – its because in the real economy it was. Because the Tories did nothing – just as Cameron said he would do this time – nothing.
A look at unemployment figures in 1992 compared with today tells us everything we need to know about what happens when the likes of Cameron are allowed to get their hands on the economy. In 1992, in West Oxfordshire there were 2,722 people unemployed, today there are 1014. That’s a staggering 63% lower, or 1708 people. That’s 1,708 more people with a job, a livelihood, and security for their home. In other parts of the country the difference is tens of thousands.
That’s why we need to Stop Cameron – because he’s bad for Britain, bad for Witney, and bad for West Oxfordshire. Come on Mr.Cameron – look your constituents in the eyes and tell them you did better in the past and could do better in the future. The numbers just don’t stack up.
I no longer agree with Nick. There – I’ve said it. Nick was wrong.
