“The chancellor is making a dangerous bet on the economy bouncing back on its own. He is gambling with the recovery when he should have acted to create jobs.
“We are in the worst recession of our lifetimes. We saw nothing like the investment we need to stop unemployment and fund long overdue investment in Wales’ infrastructure that could create tens of thousands of good quality green jobs.
“The last-minute extension of furlough, while welcome, ends too soon, which will risk jobs and businesses. Cutting universal credit in October will risk family incomes. And failing to fix decent sick pay for all risks more infections and another lockdown.”
The budget falls far short of the level of action called for in the TUC’s budget submission.
The overall level of public investment to stimulate recovery has not been increased by the budget.
The TUC budget submission called for the chancellor to: