John McDonnell nails exactly what’s behind Sajid Javid’s early spending review

John McDonnell and Sajid Javid
Support us and go ad-free

The chancellor Sajid Javid has announced he’s bringing forward the autumn spending review to 4 September. And while Javid claims that this will “clear the decks to let us focus on Brexit”, shadow chancellor John McDonnell nailed the real purpose of this early review:

To the polls

McDonnell wasn’t the only person who believes that this announcement is a precursor to a general election. Lots of social media users also believe it’s a “pre-general election gimmick”:

Read on...

‘A panic driven stunt budget’

As McDonnell says, this is a “panic driven stunt budget”. Javid stated that:

I also want to give the same certainty to our public services.

But this is not something a Conservative government can deliver. Because it’s a government that has slashed so much money from public services that any money injected won’t even match the level of cuts already made. For example, under the Conservatives:

  •  £956,881,000 has been cut from children and young people’s services.
  • Funding for the ministry of justice was cut by 27% over ten years, and the “criminal justice system is in tatters”.
  • Mental health services are in crisis with a £5.8bn funding gap.
  • £5.4bn cuts have been made to school budgets since 2015.

And these are just a few examples of the myriad of public services that the Tories have destroyed. Meanwhile, 4.1 million children are living in poverty, and record numbers of people are using foodbanks.

“Nobody is fooled”

The Tories are hoping we’re all stupid, and that they can shake the magic money tree and people will forgive the years of austerity. But as McDonnell said, “nobody is fooled”. Javid’s promises are empty and meaningless.

As Boris Johnson raises the stakes and shuts down parliament to force through his no-deal Brexit, speculation over an early general election is growing.

And all of us need to be ready to fight that election. We need to make sure the election is fought on the damage and destruction the Tories have wreaked on all our lives. We need to make sure no one forgets exactly what they’ve done to this country. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Because electing a Jeremy Corbyn-led government is the only possible solution we have to this current mess.

Featured image via Wikimedia – Transition HeathrowFlickr – mrgarethm

We know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support

The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.

The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.

So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.

Support us
  • Show Comments
    1. hahahaha, yet again you get me searching and thinking ….ta very much! 🙂

      for those who don’t know (which was me 5 minutes ago)…..

      from Dictionary.com …

      kakistocracy

      [ kak-uh-stok-ruh-see ]
      noun, plural kak·is·toc·ra·cies.
      government by the worst persons; a form of government in which the worst persons are in power.

      Origin of kakistocracy
      1820–30; < Greek kákisto(s), superlative of kakós bad + -cracy
      Related forms
      ka·kis·to·crat·i·cal [kuh-kis-tuh-krat-i-kuh l] , adjective

      I will be adding kakistocracy to my 'must use more' list …. right after I add it to my stupid spell-checker …really British-English dictionary in my browser didn't have it…..probably a Tory plot to hide their true identity.

    Leave a Reply

    Join the conversation

    Please read our comment moderation policy here.