http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/free-school-meals-may-be-scrapped-by-councils-under-tidal-wave-of-cuts-8574211.htmlQuote:
Free school meals could soon be scrapped and people paid to look after elderly neighbours as councils take desperate measures to deliver a “tidal wave” of spending cuts, ministers will be warned on Tuesday.
Closures of municipal theatres, leisure centres, libraries and play groups will accelerate because of a 50 per cent reduction in local authorities’ spending power, according to a report from an independent think-tank.
The New Local Government Network said town halls will struggle to cope with a £16.5bn gulf which could, under current Coalition plans, open between their income and the demands on them.
The disparity will leave them facing huge problems meeting their commitments to care for the millions of “baby boomers” reaching old age and educate growing numbers of children.
I've seen estimates of evasion and avoidance loopholes which if closed could net £25Bn, according to lefty types who might have a vested interest in 'bigging up' the number. Let's say it's accurate though. That leaves a mere £95Bn to find to close the Government spending deficit.
It's inevitable we'll be paying more for the same or less, or paying a lot less for less, as we ain't been paying the going rate for the current suite of services on offer for over a decade.
The standard of political discourse in the UK is a joke. The sooner we start having an honest debate about what we are prepared to pay for, and what sort of services we can realistically afford for that, without punting the costs down the line to future generations, the better. Unfortunately it seems on the current course we'll be rearranging deckchairs until the ship hits the seabed.
Login
FAQ
Search
