date: 24 November 2008

embargo: For immediate release

PBR - TUC initial reaction

Responding to the Pre-Budget Report announced by the Chancellor today (Monday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'The Chancellor was right to inject this extra money into the economy. He has changed the political debate by breaking the taboo that the super-rich should never pay more tax.

'He did about as much today as he could to boost the economy but we will need further interest rate cuts and action to get credit flowing to effectively bear down on the recession.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

-A more detailed reaction to today's statement will follow.

- The TUC economics team will be analysing the pre-budget report in further detail. Their analyses will be available on the TUC touchstone blog at www.touchstoneblog.org.uk

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

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 24 Nov 2008