Hello again – last Saturday I was out on the doorsteps with Rochelle Russell – Labour’s excellent candidate in Gorse Hill and Pinehurst.  Some people mentioned the Tories’ plan not to increase National Insurance in April 2011.  While the Tories did get good press coverage for this ploy, they only achieved it by COMPLETELY DESTROYING THEIR CREDIBILITY.

By putting politics before economics, putting their short-term political interests before the longer-term economic interests of the country, they are scoring points rather than sticking to the policies that will secure Britain’s economic recovery!! When things get choppy for Mr. Cameron his first thought is to abandon fiscal discipline and his commitment to tackling the deficit, and instead reach out for crowd pleasing about-turns.  Easy politics does not make for sound economics. And it isn’t leadership.

So my point for voters in Swindon is this:   the headlines achieved by the Tories show that it is really only Labour which has consistent and credible policies to keep the country on the road to recovery.  Nothing must get in the way – no gimmicks and no cheap give-aways to keep wealthy Tory backers happy.

Gordon and Alistair must continue to make the right calls, as they did when we were hit by the global financial crisis. They were the first movers on a plan that averted a Great Depression in the global economy, and their decisions set us on the road to recovery. Through the resilience and sacrifice of the British people, the impact of the recession was blunted and shortened. As a consequence, the rate of unemployment, business failures, and home repossessions has been significantly lower than under the Tory recession of the 1990s (and with lower mortgage rates too).

Cameron-Osborne got all these big economic judgements wrong. They would have let Northern Rock go to the wall. They opposed the fiscal stimulus and the real help we gave businesses and families so we could get through this recession together.  Now they are getting it wrong on the recovery. Cut through George Osborne’s waffle and you will see him confirming that he plans to take £6-7 billion out of the economy this year in his ‘emergency’ budget, even though private demand remains weak.  To take this amount of spending power out of the economy straightaway – when the economy needs support and the road ahead will be bumpy – would pull the rug from under the recovery. This ‘emergency’ budget would put the economy straight back into the crisis room.

The rise in National Insurance – which we propose – is not due this year – but in 2011 once recovery is secured.  It is a necessary measure to enable us to restore the public finances whilst maintaining the public services.   Government is about hard choices and we cannot shy away from them if we want to tackle the deficit and protect schools, hospitals, childcare and the police.

Frontline schools, police numbers and Sure Start will not be protected by the Tories.  That much we know. If you are a parent with children in school, or who use Children’s Centres, you should know before you cast your vote that these budgets will be cut under the Tories, not protected.  The Tories can say what they like. But a promise to cut the deficit further than Labour, cut taxes and sustain public spending doesn’t add up – it is a three card Tory con trick.

Securing recovery and protecting frontline services will be on the ballot paper come election day:  and they are both under threat from a Tory party that is showing itself to be a party little changed from the past.  Look at their platform: immediate cuts that would put jobs and services at risk; unfunded tax cuts; an inheritance tax giveaway for the 3,000 richest estates in the country, whilst middle income mums have their child tax credits and Child Trust funds taken away.

But when it comes down to it, people do not trust the Tories to be on their side. They believe the Tories want to cut public services whether it is necessary or not. Some in the media may wish to obscure this fact but the public’s attitude is deeply felt.

Please let me know what you think.  I’m glad to receive emails on victor4nswindon@googlemail.com

Victor Agarwal, Labour Candidate North Swindon.