'Eliminating the deficit' is just a Tory excuse to continue hacking down the public sector with austerity

MSP Gil Paterson has criticised the Tory government’s perpetual austerity agenda — one that looks set to continue until at least 2027.

It has been reported Chancellor Philip Hammond is preparing a new package of cuts worth ten years to “eliminate the deficit”.

The Tories’ obsession with eliminating the deficit, Mr Paterson said, is an excuse to continue hacking down the public sector in the UK.

The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP said: “Yet another decade of downsizing the public sector with budget cuts — all in this attempt to ‘eliminate the deficit’.

“It looks like ‘eliminating the deficit’ is a mere excuse to continue flogging our public services in pursuit of the Tories’ free market fantasy.

“Private profiteers are gobbling up institutions, like the Royal Mail, parts of the NHS in England and swathes of the social security system.

“This is merely the beginning, and in post-Brexit Britain, the Tories will have free rein on selling off more of our cherished public facilities.”

ENDS

References: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/philip-hammond-to-push-back-target-for-balancing-books-until-2027-w625n50pw