The spending review was a clear pitch for the leadership, a glimpse of how our country with its diverse communities would look under a George Osborne-led government. This was a speech carefully constructed around words of security, both economic and national, of strength, of building up, yet behind the reassurance the reality remains bleak.
Whether the change in policy on tax credits was a humiliating climbdown under political pressure led by Labour or proof we have a listening chancellor, it is excellent news that Osborne has scrapped a policy which would have damaged so many people already struggling to cope on low wages. For those already on universal credits however there will be no relief, nor any confidence that increased wages will compensate them. The economic security Osborne talks about does not extend to people who right now can barely keep their heads above water.
‘The police are on the frontline of the fight to keep us safe’, so no further cuts to our police budget. Again, good news as far it goes but we have already lost over 17,000, there are still cuts to be implemented, and we were expecting more cuts before the terrible attacks in Paris. When we cut essential services, police, fire, hospital staff, to the point they can just function on a normal day, just how can we be ready, in our towns, cities, as a country, for emergencies?
One great omission in this speech which kept talking about security was the environment and tackling climate change. In 2010, blue was apparently green but with the climate change conference in Paris, beyond flooding, environmental projects face huge cuts, from public transport to energy. Tough on floods, but not on the causes of floods.
We can be relieved there is money for the NHS in the short term but it is paid for by cutting budget from public health, which costs more in the long term both from a financial and a human perspective. In the same way, driving local authorities to use capital reserves to pay for services is a short term solution and simply is not sustainable.
The CSR gives us a glimpse of decentralisation in an Osborne economy. Devolving power is beginning to look a little like passing the buck with government giving councils more responsibility while taking away the means of delivering them. The new powers to raise additional funding for social care has merit but it also raises questions about fairness with more deprived areas struggling to maintain services. The Conservatives’ position is clear – you are free to raise more money locally, IF your community can afford it.