Government must set out funding plan to protect and improve public services, says TUC

The TUC has welcomed the publication today (Monday) of a report that warns that current government plans would mean further cuts to vital public services over the next five years.

The report from the New Economics Foundation finds that the UK can afford to improve the public services that working people and their families depend on, noting evidence that investment in public services strengthens the economy.

Any tax rises made by government to improve public services should be targeted on the wealthiest, says the TUC. Working people have already paid a high price for the financial crisis through the longest period of pay stagnation in 200 years and through cuts to the services they depend on.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“People will look back on the last decade and wonder why public services took the hit when it was the banks that crashed the economy.

“Cutting public services has not helped the economy. If anything, it put the brakes on growth. And it has left every community across the UK feeling the pain.

“We can’t go on repeating the same mistake. Our schools, hospitals, care workers and all public services must be prioritised in the next spending round. The government must set out a funding plan to protect them and improve them. As this report shows, it will make our economy stronger in the long run.”