John Baron

Conservative Party | Billericay and District

Points of View

The Budget

Although the budget is now old news, if fully implemented its ramifications will be felt for many years.  There is little doubt it was an election budget – with the government borrowing more in order to continue with its high but ineffective spending plans.

The growth in borrowing is alarming.  In the 2001 budget, Gordon Brown forecast borrowing over five years of £30 billion.  By 2002, this figure had risen to £72 billion.  In this budget, he predicted borrowing of £140 billion over the next five years.

The rationale for this strategy is clear.  The government is rightly sensing that taxpayers are getting fed up with the tax increases which has paid for its higher spending thus far.  And one can understand why.

There have been something like 60 tax increases since 1997 – including a rise in National Insurance Contributions (NICs), the abolition of married couples allowance, higher taxes on petrol, increases in stamp duty, a £5 billion a year tax on pension funds, steep rises in Council tax each year, and the abolition of mortgage tax relief.

It is little wonder that the tax-take of the government has risen 50% since 1997.

And yet despite all these extra taxes, our public services have not got better.  Constituents are noticing that waiting times for operations remain stubbornly high, that there are too few police on our streets and that violent crime is rising, that all too often they cannot get their children into their chosen school, that our roads and pavements need investment, and that our greenbelt is under threat by a government which insists on dictating to local residents how many houses should be built and yet does absolutely nothing to protect residents form illegal development of our greenfields.

Therefore the government, sensing this disillusionment, has decided to increase borrowings massively in the lead up to an election rather than continue raising taxes at the moment.

But this borrowing has to be paid back eventually.  A third term in office can only mean further tax increases from Labour which in turn will harm enterprise and growth and, ultimately, our ability to help those most in need and to fund public services.

Fun Walk

It is pleasing to note that 30 local charities and good causes have so far signed up to the event on 23rd May.  The deadline for registration is the end of this month, and so if you have missed our letters and would like more details then please phone 01268-520765.

Over the last couple of years we have raised over £30,000 for local causes, so come and join us for what we hope will again be a fun afternoon for the whole family.