Investing for the future now will get the economy growing again, says TUC

date: 3 June 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on the speech today (Monday) by the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'The government's economic policies are not working. Three years on from the election families have seen their living standards plummet, businesses are struggling and almost a million young people without work despair that they will ever find a job.

'Borrowing to invest in the UK's capital infrastructure is both a smart and sensible way to get our economy growing again - and a huge social housing programme would create much-needed jobs and growth.

'Only last week we published research showing that the UK economy would have grown three times faster over the last year if the government had done more to stop the decline of our construction industry.

'The longer the government's failed policies continue, the greater the damage to our economy. What we need now is strong and sustainable growth rather than further cuts to universal benefits.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The TUC's campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk