The Chancellor failed to offer any help to tackle the cost of living crisis, says TUC

date: 30 September 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on the Chancellor's speech to the Conservative Party conference today (Monday), TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'Having been forced to face up to the UK's cost of living crisis, all the Chancellor offered today was more the of the same failed austerity policies that has made families thousands of pounds worse off.

'The Chancellor has shown his priorities by using the proceeds from a bedroom tax that is forcing disabled people out of their homes to give a minority of married couples an extra £3.85 a week.

'Ordinary families will now be worried how they'll be made to pay for the unfunded fuel duty freeze.

'The Help to Work proposals are an admission that the Work Programme - which is helping just 1 in 25 disabled people into work - is failing. But instead of offering positive support, such as a job guarantee to help people into proper paid work, the Chancellor has chosen to punish a small number of struggling long-term dole claimants.'

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