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James Lancaster

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Osborne Gives Up on Regional Growth

Posted: 26/03/2012 00:00

If George Osborne brings in localised pay it will serve as an admittance that his economic plan is failing and that he has given up on economic growth in some of the UK's poorest regions. The policy is regressive and could be incredibly dangerous for any coalition MPs who represent seats that will be directly affected by these reforms.

The Coalition looks set to skip past an independent consultation and has devalued democracy yet again. George Osborne will push that it is unfair on private sector workers whose pay is not in alignment with public sector workers who hold similar roles, however it is a case of the private sector getting even, not reducing the value of people's jobs in the public sector. This policy will isolate many voters from ever voting for a Lib Dem or Tory again.

MPs in some of the regions affected by these reforms will face serious electoral backlash, if they support them. Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs, in the north especially, should have a big think before backing something that is devaluing their constituents - you can have as many photographs as you like standing outside a hospital to defend it, but now is a time for MPs to stand up and defend their constituents. This reform really shows the callous manner in which this government treats public sector workers.

The government has boasted about the value of bringing in high speed rail and that it can bridge the north and south divide, although it is becoming more and more evident that Osborne has closed the door on economic growth in the north of England. There is also the hypocritical element of this reform as it completely contradicts Osborne's proposal of increasing economic growth, as is going to leave people with less consumer spending power and will damage private sector growth as a result. It is important to point out that these proposals will not only impact on those in the north but also on other low income regions across the country.

George Osborne can boast an economic mandate, but it is ever changing and isn't in correlation with the foundations of the UK economy. During Labour's tenure we had 51% of people employed in the public sector and Osborne has viciously thrown millions of jobs away, as a result private sector growth has suffered.

Liberal Democrat MPs can't call themselves Social Democrats or Liberals if they support this reform - it is reminiscent of the regressive and repressive Government of the 1980s. This government may have a dash of yellow and, claim to like green energy but it is becoming obvious that the same old Tories are back and ready to divide Britain yet again, from rich to poor to north to south - it is imperative that we urgently challenge the cruel and vindictive manner in which Public Sector workers are being attacked.

Follow @No2LocalisedPay - back the campaign for a fair deal.

 

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If George Osborne brings in localised pay it will serve as an admittance that his economic plan is failing and that he has given up on economic growth in some of the UK's poorest regions. The policy i...
If George Osborne brings in localised pay it will serve as an admittance that his economic plan is failing and that he has given up on economic growth in some of the UK's poorest regions. The policy i...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ben Wilson
What's the story mourning Tories?
12:12 PM on 03/26/2012
Very much in agreement. Localised pay already kind of exists and it's not fair. It can only make sense with jobs that have overly generous salaries and we know thats not the case with Osbournes plan. As someone said on Question Time, if anything it should work in reverse to attract professionals to suffering areas, but at the end of the day the majority of us want equality in wages more than equality in any other area of life.

To me this policy is a vivid portrayal of a London-centric government and the tip of an iceberg that makes me sympathise with Scottish Independance. Make no doubt, the swines would even take our water to quench the overpopualted South.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ccraiglamont
Sometimes funny, other times...not!
08:09 AM on 03/26/2012
Localised pay has been around for decades. I know from my time in retail that store staff in London and the Home counties and other bigger cities got a higher rate of pay than those in the North and more ruralised areas. FACT! The whole big myth about everything 'costing more' in London is based on nothing but "If its bigger...it costs more!" London is made out to be expensive because business' think the people in the area must be able to afford to pay a little bit more so they jack the price up. When this happens the people then say (rightly) "Its more expensive living in London" so they campaign for wage rises to meet this rise in the cost of their living. The business people then think, "ooh they got a pay rise...lets have a slice of that!!!" so they jack the prices up...again!! and so on and so on... It's a false economy created out of the greed of the few to exploit the needs of the many.
Is there no Human Rights legislation that says everyone should be paid equally for performing the same job regardless of their location? Localised pay just drives dispute and animosity amongst the working people and serves only the RICH whilst the poor are palmed off with platitudes and excuses.
northern git
fed up with all the political crap in life
07:49 AM on 03/26/2012
when to going gets tough

the tough get going

where is Osborne off to
?
to count his millions no doubt
11:23 PM on 03/25/2012
Localised pay is just another way of saying 'we'll pay rich people more and poor people less'.