Budget 2017: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn claims millions face squeeze to fund tax cuts for the few

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Jeremy Corbyn today lambasted the Budget as “built on failure and unfairness” leaving millions of people facing a squeeze on their living standards.

The Labour leader warned that the economy “isn’t working for the many” as the country heads towards Brexit uncertainty and the prospect of more austerity years.

“This is a Budget entirely out of touch with the reality of life for many millions of people in this country,” Mr Corbyn told the Evening Standard.

“Millions of workers know their next pay packet won’t be enough to make ends meet. It is a Budget built on failure and unfairness.”

Hammond: Corbyn accused the Chancellor of failing to tackle low pay and issues within the NHS
AFP/Getty Images

He argued that the income of the average household this year is still less in real terms than before the 2008 financial crash. “An economy that isn’t working for the many is the reality facing Britain today,” he added.

“This government is cutting the services and the living standards of the many to fund tax cuts for the few.”

He accused Chancellor Philip Hammond of failing to tackle low pay, the “state of emergency” in the NHS and social care and failing to “deliver a fair economy that truly works for everyone”.

Commons: Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks during Prime Minister's Questions
PA

He said that some people were prospering, including chief executives “now paid 180 times” more than the average worker, big corporations making higher profits, speculators who were being “taxed less” and Britain’s wealthiest families due to the cut in inheritance tax.

In contrast, Mr Corbyn stressed that low pay is “holding back” millions of people and the country, with more than one million working households having to claim benefit to pay their rent, and three million working families relying on tax credits.

“This is a chancellor and a government who are not only not on the side of workers. They’re not even on the side of taxpayers who pick up the bill for low pay and insecure work,” he added.

Budget: Philip Hammond before giving his first Spring statement
Jeremy Selwyn

The Islington North MP, who has had to fend of fresh rumblings over his leadership following the loss of the Copeland by-election last month, claimed that 86 per cent of changes to tax and benefits since 2010 had “fallen” on women.

He also slammed the Trade Union Act for “shackling” unions and “perpetuating” low pay, fuelling higher bills for in-work benefits.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron argued that Mr Hammond’s Budget showed that the Government’s “hard Brexit” plans would do “huge damage” to public finances.

He said: “These Tory Brexit plans are set to make things even worse, by hitting our economy and meaning even fewer resources are available for frontline services. The Government needs to face the facts - you can’t have a strong NHS with a hard Brexit.”

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