Budget 2011: Verdict in rhyme and reason

OBV alumni member, community development worker and poet Dawna Lee picks through the second Budget and delivers her verdict in rhyme and reason.

I wonder how many of you were impressed by Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget on Wednesday. 

Pretty impressive stuff -  a neat economic package wrapped up in a bundle of slick sound bites that taps into our love of showbiz  - aspirations - and our desperate desire to feel as though things -  to quote Blair’s anthem.. ‘Will only get better’.

George Osborne describes it as a budget built on sound money – well  it’s definitely a budget built on an ideology that those who earn more should pay more – however – those who earn less – will not pay less – they  too will pay more.

In that respects it’s not a budget built on an ideology of equality.  In a rhythmic display to set your pulse alight he described it as a budget to take the country “From rescue to reform - from reform to recovery”

Yet the loss to the public sector will hit families hard once further job losses are realised – and few at that time will view that impact as either rescue or recovery.

“A budget for making things – not making things up”  - Well actions speak louder than words  - so we can only hope that the private sector is able to replenish the gap left by public sector job cuts - and that the new enterprise zones  will offer much needed employment to those most in need.

The Chancellor stated that “Britain is open for business” , and whilst that may be true,  it’s hardly new. 

Wealthy investors and a large number of private sector businesses have reaped the benefits of British business for many years.  Those, however,  who are not in a position to invest or provide services will continue to be consumers and,  ironically,  those with the least and also dependant on services will have to  spend the most , and remain the most vulnerable.

However there was some good news. There will be funding for 12 new university technical colleges which the government will increase to 24. Technical colleges that will provide vocational training to 11 – 19yr olds. This I guess will be for those students who they feel may be unable to achieve the new Baccalaureate.  Who knows?   This is a great thing if the skills of these students are recognised and truly valued – that they are not viewed as somehow  ’second class – second rate qualifications’.

We need skilled people in all areas – and I hope this is the government’s recognition of that.

The Chancellor  stated in the house that the “Biggest problem facing our economy in the future is low, or lack of skills of our working age population”. Yet it’s hard to see how that will be improved if the plan to charge for Level 3 qualifications goes ahead. 

Low skills don’t equal low ability.  We have a large number of highly capable people in boroughs such as Hackney that at times (for no fault of their own) did not acquire a decent education, or gain the necessary qualifications.  A lack of, or not having  qualifications can mean,  especially for minority groups,  a reduction of opportunity ,  low paid jobs , and very little money to pay for classes.  It’s a vicious cycle.

Still it’s good to hear that ‘Non Dom’ tax dodgers will have to pay tax like the rest of us... pretty sure they’ll find a way around that – but it’s a good step towards fairness

Osborne closed his speech with an almost poetic rallying call of …
“Made in Britain
Created in Britain
Designed in Britain
Invented in Britain
To drive our nation forward
A Britain carried aloft by the march of the makers
That is how we will create jobs and support families,
We have put fuel into the tank of the British economy and I commend this budget to the house!”.
‘yeaaaah’
Cool.

So  - up stepped Ed Miliband with my favorite quips of the day
What say Ed (you sure you’re not from Hackney?) Miliband?
‘Cha’ (I said that).

“Same old Tories!”… Said Ed..
“It’s hurting …but it isn’t working!…

“The wrong type of Chancellor …
in the wrong type of government …
with the wrong priorities for Britain…
A complacent  - arrogant Chancellor..
in a complacent -  arrogant government".

Lord have mercy…
It’s true what they say – you can’t please ‘em all…

Dawna Lee is currently working with disadvantaged individuals and groups in Adult Learning Services  as an Outreach Education and Training Advisor.  She is a qualified IAG  (Information Advice and Guidance) Advisor, and is  currently in her 3rd year of a Community Development Degree. She is in the process of setting up an organisation to support ex- offenders and parents and families of ex-offenders.