Blog: Which version of the UK will Jeremy Hunt choose to back?

Last week, the news showed two versions of the UK. In one, school buildings are crumbling and ambulances have to queue outside overstretched A&E departments. Public service workers who we clapped through the pandemic are relying on food banks, and credit cards to afford their energy bills and childcare costs. Workers across the country are making the difficult choice to take industrial action for a decent wage. In the other UK, though, profits are booming. The oil and gas giants made record returns, while our energy bills hit record highs. And as public service workers are told to accept pay restraint, Shell’s outgoing CEO was given a 53% pay rise and a payout in the millions. Bankers bonuses have doubled since the 2008 crash. Wednesday’s budget is about choices. The chancellor has to choose which of the two versions of the UK is his priority. Will he choose to let oil and gas giants continue to make massive profits at the expense of ordinary households struggling to pay their bills? Will he choose to allow obscene payouts at the top, while telling public service workers to accept yet another pay cut? Or will he choose to fix the crisis in public services and the crisis that each of us faces as we grapple with the rising cost of living? When working people get a pay rise, they don’t gamble it in stocks and shares, or buy second homes. Instead, they spend it locally, buying food in local shops, taking their family to the cafe, paying their nursery bills or getting a ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: General Secretary's blog budget cost of living Source Type: news