So…The Budget 2009 was released on Wednesday and naturally not everyone is happy.
There have been mixed reactions across the board with newspapers like The Sun placing the emphasis on the 2% tax rise on alcohol and cigarettes whereas The Daily Telegraph concentrated on the 50p tax rise for high earners.
So apart from the extra pence or two on top of good ol’ night out, how else are students and young people affected by the Budget?
Firstly, Alistair Darling promises funding for sixth form centres across the country in order to create a further 54,000 places. This is absolutely vital for school leavers who do want to go onto further education. Many youngsters have been turned away because there is lack of space at sixth forms and colleges.
Secondly, all under 25 year-olds who have been out of work for a year or more, are to be offered a job or training with extra benefits on the training scheme. Fantastic if the government can pull it off but (and excuse me for being sceptical) where are they going to find these job placements from? And after training, will the trainees end up with a job?
Its absolutely amazing what the government can do. They can ‘create’ money out of thin air for their banks yet some people in Britain are living close to the poverty line. Alcohol, tobacco and fuel prices seem to be going up and up and people are struggling to run their cars while MPs claim expenses for everything.
With claims that Darling’s figures for the Budget do not match up and David Cameron referring to the Labour government as ‘The Living Dead,’ the future for the party does not look bright.
I’m sure Darling sat there reassuring himself that the documents in his little battered briefcase were the right solution for Britain. Hey, not an easy job this running-the-country malarky but somebody has to do it but whether it will be a Labour victory at the next election is highly debatable.
See the full Budget 2009 report here.
