Council chief economically illiterate

WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has accused the leader of the borough council of being “economically illiterate.”
She has lashed out in response to a statement issued by Coun Ian Marks last week calling on Labour to take responsibility for the economic situation which has led to the Coalition Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
Ms Jones said: “Coun Marks accuses Labour of a profligate spending. There are a number of problems with that comment.
“First, before the global financial crisis hit, the UK had the second lowest debt of any G7 country. We borrowed more to keep people in work and stop them losing their jobs.
“If Coun Marks objects to this, whose job did he want to go? Who does he think should have lost their home?
“Second – the last government inherited a debt level of 10p in every £1 of tax received. Even after the world recession, it bequeathed a debt of 15 per cent lower.
“Third – the interest rates the UK pays on its debt have been falling since the beginning of the year.
“Now the LibDems in Warrington tell us what they’re doing is fair.
“There is nothing fair about hitting the poorest hardest. There’s nothing fair about attacking hard-working families, and sick and disabled people. How can it be fair when children are paying more than the banks?
“There is an alternative to this ‘slash and burn’ approach. We could reduce spending gradually, and invest in new jobs. The best way to tackle the deficit is to have people in work. The government’s strategy isn’t a strategy for jobs – it’s a strategy for unemployment.”