Bradford people and politicians give their views on Budget

The coalition Government’s VAT hike from 17.5 to 20 per cent drew particular criticism from Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe.

He said: “The VAT increase is a major blow to cities like ours. It will affect everybody. It will stop people spending and deflate the economy at a time when we want to nurture the economy and get development in the areas where we want to see growth. I didn’t see anything that would support the regional economy.”

But Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies said it was Mr Sutcliffe’s party that had forced the Government’s hand, although he was uncomfortable about raising VAT.

He said: “This Government didn’t create the financial mess we’re in, we inherited it and what George Osborne did was take the necessary, unavoidable and tough decisions that we all knew in our hearts of hearts we need to go through but the previous government ducked.

“I don’t want to see VAT increased to 20 per cent, and I’m sure George Osborne didn’t want it either.” Keighley Conservative MP Kris Hopkins defended the Budget, which saw the biggest tax hikes and spending cuts in a generation, saying he was pleased that low income families and pensioners would be protected.

He said: “It’s a bold Budget but it is one which will ensure that this country can get back on a sound economic footing and avoid our children and our children’s children from inheriting a huge mountain of debt.”

But Bradford Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood (Lab) said: “This is an attack on poor people. The VAT, the freezing of public sector pay, the freezing of child benefits – this is a budget that will have a massive impact upon the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.”

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council’s Conservative group leader, said: “This budget is about spending cuts and tax rises, which is no surprise when the country has to climb out of the current financial crisis. The national debt is heading for £1.4 trillion if something isn’t done to halt it.”

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Council’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “The bottom line is that Labour has left the country with a legacy of debt that amounts to £22,400 for every man, woman and child that lives in Bradford.

“The Government has to take some action but I will not allow Labour in Bradford to not take full responsibility for making sure that reductions in services, should they need to take place, protect the most vulnerable.”

Ray Alderman, Bradford convenor of the GMB, said the public sector freezes were “diabolical”.

He said: “The pay rises we have been getting over the last few years have been minimal, but straight away the Tories seem to hit the public services every time.”

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “This budget signals that the battle for Britain’s public services has begun with the Government declaring war. Public sector workers will be shocked and angry that they’re the innocent victims of job cuts and pay freezes.”

Pam Milner, deputy secretary of the Bradford branch of the NASUWT, wanted more protection for newcomers to teaching.

“Everyone is going to be affected by this budget to a greater or lesser extent but when you start out as a teacher it’s very hard to get a mortgage on a low wage.”

Ian Murch, Bradford branch secretary of NUT, said he expected changes to public sector pensions, coupled with the pay freeze, would mean the value of teachers’ pay would fall by between nine and ten per cent over a two-year period.

He said: “A lot of teachers are retiring and new people are coming in. It’s more active than it has been for some years, but these measures are a deterrent.”

Bradford East Lib Dem MP David Ward and Bradford West MP Marsha Singh were unavailable for comment last night.

THE FAMILY

Ruth Weston, 42, lives in Shipley with her husband David and five children aged from 15 to five. The couple run Aquabirths, providing pools for home birthing.

Ruth is pleased to see a rise in child tax credits from next year.

She said: “Such payments are vital for parents wanting to return to work. I could not have done so otherwise. My biggest concern was that they would not be protected.”

With the removal of the baby element of child credit, which is paid until the child’s first birthday, Ruth fears this could force some women to return to work earlier than they would have liked. “That first year is key, particularly with breast feeding - we should be supporting parents and helping them to stay at home if they wish to do so.

“I’m also not comfortable with the freezing of child benefit. I feel it is being undermined. This signals that it isn’t as important as balancing the budget.”

In the longer-term, Ruth also worries about possible cuts in the public sector and the health service. “I want to see front-line services such as maternity services protected. I would not want to see all the hard work that has been put in to areas such as the promotion of breast feeding and natural births, and the associated health benefits to be eroded.”

THE MARRIED PARENT

Catherine Riley, 49, is manager of the Kirkgate Centre in Bradford. She lives with her husband Vincent and nine-year-old son Nathan.

“My initial reaction is that the budget isn’t as bad as people expected,” she said.

“I have not seen anything to indicate any changes to the Working Families Tax Credit system which a lot of people rely on. This, along with child benefit – which is staying the same for the moment – helps with things like school uniforms, so I’m pleased about that.

“The VAT rise will affect prices as food has to be packaged and transported to the shops – at every stage it is going to cost more – but I’m glad the rise has been deferred to next year as consumers may decide to buy larger items before then and get the economy moving.”

Mrs Riley is concerned about the future for public sector workers in the district, but is not surprised by the announcement to freeze pay for two years. “Around 35 per cent of people in Bradford work in the public sector.”

She went on to point out that the public sector is catching up with the private sector, “which has already taken this on board.”

“We were all psyching ourselves up for a dreadful Budget and knew that tough measures were needed, but it doesn’t seem as bad as we all imagined it would be. I’m relatively upbeat about it.”

THE SINGLE MUM

Single mum Heidi Waddington, 34, co-runs a business hosting handbag accessory parties. She also provides marketing support for Shipley-based Aquabirths. She has a five-year-old daughter, Tilly.

For her, the budget has brought good and bad news, she said.

“It’s swings and roundabouts. In some ways I will be better off. The child element of tax credit is rising by £150 above inflation so I’ll benefit from that. I’ll also miss the cut in child tax credits for families earning more than £40,000. My tax credits will be unaffected but I will gain on the child element.

“On the flip side, I run my own business and VAT is going up in January next year.

“I’m pleased that the rise has been held off until then as we will not need to raise prices until next year.

“We will be looking to find more money to spend on stock before VAT goes up, so we can keep our prices down. It will be an interesting exercise in book-keeping.”

She said it would also be interesting to see what would happen during the January sales, adding: “I am surprised they have not raised duty on cigarettes and alcohol.

“With the VAT increase I expect that was seen as enough.”