Budget’s rewards pass by hard-working public sector

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/09/budgets-rewards-pass-by-hard-working-public-sector

Version 0 of 1.

In his opening statement of the 2015 Budget, George Osborne said: “This is a budget that recognises hard work. This will be a budget for working people.” As a teacher who has been in the profession for 16 years, it’s extremely depressing that yet again public sector workers are being held responsible for the financial mess, and that pay rises are being capped at 1% for the next four years. Corporation tax has been cut again from 20% to 18% when we already have the lowest in the G20. In the US it’s set at 40% and in Australia at 30%. The further reduction will cost £2.4bn by the year 2020. Why are we handing out corporate welfare when large corporations, like the big energy firms, are lapping up soaring profits? Or indeed when similarly large corporations are deliberately evading tax or offering zero-hours contracts to their workers?

Basically, those people who deliver public services are expected not to benefit from Britain’s recovery. Instead, they are expected to deliver £13bn of spending cuts under increasingly stressful and difficult conditions. This isn’t a budget that recognises hard work.Siobhan FlintColchester, Essex

• Following the budget proposals, it is obvious that the increased productivity that doctors and nurses have already made in the last five years (and will be required to make in the next four years) has been totally ignored. The 1% increase in salaries each year means the government has in effect scrapped the independent pay review body. NHS salaries will be at least 10% behind those in the private sector over this time span. Several near relatives are nurses and most are considering two options: forgoing career progression, resigning from the NHS and joining an agency, where every hour they work will be compensated well, unlike the present situation where many unpaid hours are worked; or following thousands of their colleagues who have already emigrated to Australia and New Zealand, where their contributions are greatly appreciated. Where possible I recommend a new life abroad.Dr Anthony CarrSolihull, West Midlands

• I note that the chancellor has announced that public sector workers will get a 1% pay rise for the next few years. I’m wondering if that will include MPs, who are also public sector workers (despite the claim of some nowadays that they are self-employed)?Alfred LittenCroydon, Surrey