In response to commentators warning the government not to invest more in the economy Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said:

“Political cowardice wrapped up as sensible politics will not be forgiven. The working class are demanding change now, not warm words and little action.

“The Liz Truss budget was a set of unfunded tax cuts. That is not the same as borrowing to invest and creating assets on our books.

“The markets have been punishing us anyway. If we have a clear, costed strategy to get Britain back on its feet they will accept it. What nobody wants is death by a thousand cuts. The markets will adapt if we have a plan based on investment in our industries, including buy British.

“How are we going to build the new industries and jobs for the future, if we just tinker around the edges? We are already way behind other countries. We can’t keep allowing the ‘computer says no’ brigade to drag Britain into a doom cycle .

“Progressive taxation and borrowing to invest in assets that drive jobs and growth has to be better than managed decline.”

The union is also calling for tax measures to bring money into the Treasury and ease cost of living pressures on workers and communities.

Sharon Graham added:

“We need to be looking at other ways to do this – in this budget and beyond. For too long the super-rich have been left virtually untouched whilst the working class pay. The working class are literally on their knees; they cannot pay anymore. Something must be done now. Jam tomorrow will not be enough.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.

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Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham