A Budget For Britain’s Schools

Investment in education and fairness for families shows why Labour is best for Rotherham

Denis MacShane MP today welcomed the Budget unveiled by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, as “a budget for Britain’s schools that shows Labour is best for Rotherham”.

“Gordon Brown showed today why Labour is best for Rotherham -  building on our platform of economic stability while still investing in the education of our children and in our public services: 

“The extra £585 million for education will mean direct money for the typical primary school in Rotherham will rise from £31,000  this year to £40,000; and from £98,000 this year to £185,000 for the typical secondary school. Investment that will help give all our children the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

“The increase in the child element will give more support to the 6,200 families – 10,900 children – in Rotherham benefiting from Labour’s tax credits. Free off peak national bus travel for pensioners will give more freedom to our 13,700 pensioners. And the increase in the starting threshold for stamp duty will help first-time buyers and those on low incomes to get on the housing ladder.

“As today’s Budget shows, Labour is making the right decisions for the future: building on economic stability, investing in public services, science and enterprise, and helping people into jobs and gain skills.

“With Labour, inflation and interest rates are low, there are two million more jobs than in 1997 with unemployment in Rotherham alone has fallen by 31.8% since 1997.

“How different from the past when Britain was tipped into recession with families and businesses in Rotherham left to pay the price. Under the Tories inflation was nearly 10 per cent, mortgage rates soared to 15 per cent, 1.5 million people suffered negative equity and unemployment hit three million.

“And today, neither the Tories or the Liberal Democrats can offer the policies for the future.

“The Tories would fail to equip Britain for the global economy. They are committed to scrapping the New Deal which would return Britain to unemployment, cutting the child tax credit that gives more support to  families, and their billions of pounds of cuts would slash investment in science, infrastructure, and our public services.

“As for the Liberal Democrats, until they can explain where the money is coming from to pay for their endless list of tax and spending commitments no one can take any pledge they make seriously.”

“Only Labour is making the right decisions to ensure Britain and Rotherham are equipped to face the challenges and take the opportunities of the future.”