The poorest have become the victims of a political jape, says TUC

Cheryl Pidgeon speaking at the
Midlands TUC event on public sector cuts

Responding to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) announced by the Chancellor today (Wednesday), TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “Right across government the Chancellor has announced eye-watering cuts that will have a desperate impact on communities, business and hard-pressed families. But he has not had the guts to spell out the detail, and instead tried to talk up a few crumbs of good news.
“Worst of all, to score a cheap party political point about Labour spending plans, he has loaded cuts on to benefits and welfare payments. Those who have not had a minister fighting their corner but who are most vulnerable to cuts have lost the most today. The poorest have become the victims of a political jape.
“But the biggest tragedy of all is that the spending review is likely to fail on its own terms. These cuts will depress the economy by causing a million job losses and undermining business and consumer confidence. There will be plenty of pain, but little to gain.”