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Public sector unions have slammed George Osborne's proposals to curb government spending.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said the Conservatives want "to use the economic recession as a stick to beat ordinary hard-working people".
"The shadow chancellor has wrapped up public sector cuts, public sector pay freezes, a rise in retirement age and reduced pension rights in warm words that will ring hollow with Britain's army of public sector workers," he added.
"It's no good the shadow chancellor having tough words for the bankers and those who wriggle out of paying their fair share of taxation, but he failed to spell out any tough action.
"The rhetoric of being all in this together doesn't ring true – the only area in the melting pot for cuts seems to be the public sector and working class people working longer.
"His commitment to the free market underlines the real Tory agenda – it's one that hasn't changed since Thatcher.”
And Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: the speech was "written on the back of a Bullingdon club membership card".
"George Osborne has made it clear that the Tories are going to hit hard working public sector workers on low pay while preparing to line the pockets of the wealthy through income tax cuts," he insisted.
"Osborne is a lightweight wielding a heavy axe aimed at hard working families. He expects them to work for less and for longer."
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd