Manchesters view on the budget….

More cash for contraception as teenage pregancy rate rises

Asked for by Salford Liberal democrats! but not taken on board by labour. This is not a problem it’s an epidemic,

Hazel Loves the budget

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Housing Minister Margaret Beckett have outlined how the Budget will put councils centre-stage in paving the way towards economic recovery and provide a major new stimulus to the housing industry.

Ms Blears said that the multi-billion pound funding settlement combined with new devolved powers will allow councils to lead and support their communities through these tough economic times and beyond.

The Budget sets out a number of measures that will deliver the homes that the country desperately needs, bolster the housing industry, get the unemployed into jobs and training, and provide much needed support to business. And we will all live happily ever after

Crime figures: Sharp rise in domestic burglaries

 

 24dash.com Sharp rise in domestic burglaries

The number of house break-ins rose sharply in the final months of last year, official figures revealed today.

Recorded crime figures from police forces in England and Wales showed a 4% rise in domestic burglaries between October and December.

Figures from the British Crime Survey showed a 25% rise in thefts.

The 4% increase in domestic burglaries – to 75,600 – is a repeat of the rise in home break-ins recorded in the third quarter.

It prompted fears of a “credit crunch crime wave” linked to the rise in unemployment.

The police figures also showed a 4% increase in burglaries at business and other premises.

Overall property crime was down by 4% with falls in vehicle break-ins, other thefts and criminal damage. Total recorded crime was down 4%.

There was a sharp drop in the number of killings involving knives, which fell by 12%. But robberies at knifepoint were up by 5% to 4,283.

Theft from the person includes pickpocketing and “snatch” thefts from cars.

The Association of Police Authorities said the 25% rise was a “worrying development”.

Chairman Bob Jones said: “Today’s British Crime Survey (BCS) statistics will reassure people that the risk of becoming a victim of crime – at 23% – remains at the lowest level since records began over 25 years ago.

“Additionally, police statistics show a drop of 4% in recorded crime for the last quarter of 2008, compared to the same period in 2007.

“Within the overall decrease in crime which is clearly visible year on year, statistical rises and decreases within some crime categories are apparent.

“This includes a significant increase of 25% in crimes classified as theft from the person, compared to the same period in the previous year.

“This is a worrying development, and one which police authorities will want to monitor closely with their forces, so that any correlation with the economic downturn can be established, and effective action taken to tackle this increase.”

The Home Office said long-term overall crime levels were down but police minister Vernon Coaker acknowledged the “new challenges” of burglary and other acquisitive crimes.

He said: “Since 1997, overall crime has fallen by 39%, violence is down by 40% and burglary is down by 55%.

“Today’s statistics show that overall crime is stable or falling and the risk of being a victim remains historically low.

“Violent crime, robbery, sexual offences and firearm offences continue to fall and I particularly welcome the 12% fall in knife-related murder.

“But we know we are facing some new challenges now and are focusing our experience and knowledge to tackle these head-on.

“That is why we have already responded to early concerns about burglary – working with police, charities, DIY stores and insurers to increase enforcement activity, target repeat offenders and give practical advice to help people secure their homes.

“There is an apparent rise in theft from the person shown by the BCS, although the comparable recorded crime figure has fallen by 4%.

“We are also seeing falls in both robbery and vehicle crime. Levels of all household and acquisitive crime remain stable.

“Record numbers of police already have the flexibility and resources to tackle local crime priorities and ensure that we can help to keep crime down.”

Labour MP Keith Vaz, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs Comittee, said: “I welcome the reduction in overall crime by 4%. However, I am concerned that robberies involving knives have increased.

“The Home Affairs Committee Knife Crime Report will be published next month to recommend strategy to the Home Office to tackle this increasing issue.”

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: “The figures paint a worrying picture of rising levels of many serious crimes.

“In particular, the jump in burglaries and robberies at knifepoint is an alarming step in the wrong direction.

“All of this underlines the need for the Government to stop wrapping up our police in unnecessary paperwork and get more officers back on to the streets.”

He added: “The figures on knife robberies will completely undermine claims by ministers that they are getting to grips with knife crime in Britain. They have got to do much better than this.”

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said ministers had been “far too complacent” on crime.

“This is the second quarter in which there is clear evidence of rising theft and burglaries as the recession bites,” he said.

“With Alistair Darling confirming yesterday we were entering the deepest recession since the Second World War, we are also facing a credit crunch crime wave.

“Labour has been far too complacent about falling crime rates and too eager to take the credit, since crime has been decreasing across Western Europe over the last decade.

“In these hard times the public needs the Government to keep them safe. That means putting more police on the street and catching criminals rather than posturing on penalties.”

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Budget 2009: Pick and mix Budget fails on all counts taken from the Liberal Democrat mainsite.

Wed, 22 Apr 2009

Nick Clegg has described today’s Budget as “a pick and mix Budget of recycled announcements from a government skilled in raising people’s hopes but incompetent at actually delivering help.”

Responding to Alistair Darling’s Budget, Nick Clegg said: “Today we got a pick and mix Budget of recycled announcements from a government skilled in raising people’s hopes but incompetent at actually delivering help.”

“The Liberal Democrats would get practical help to people who are struggling and cut the vast majority of people’s Income Tax bills by £700, paid for by taking aggressive action to clamp down on all the loopholes and exemptions that benefit the richest people and biggest businesses.”

“This Budget is a political supermarket sweep of random promises, without even a hint of a plan or any likelihood the promises will be put into practice.”

“The country deserves something different.”

Britain’s unfair tax system

The Government claims that by raising the top rate of tax to 50% for people earning over £150,000 it will raise £1.1bn. The IFS however says it will raise far less than this as people will simply avoid it, for example by presenting their income as capital and therefore only have to pay 18% of Capital Gains Tax.

Capital Gains Tax should be taxed as income and other loopholes closed.

Nick Clegg said: “The biggest disappointment in this Budget is its failure to sort out Britain’s unfair tax system. To put money into people’s pockets to help them make it through this recession.”

“Britain’s taxes are too heavy on those who can least afford it. And too easy to avoid for those who know how.

“The 50p rate will further encourage the very wealthy to avoid tax unless we tackle the unfair loopholes they exploit.”

Government Debt

The Government budget deficit over the next 5 years is going to cost £32,000 per household. The government has not made the long term tough choices which will return our economy back to stability in the future.

Nick Clegg said: “We would take big choices about what government should and shouldn’t do.”

“With a shocking deficit this year of £175bn we need a national debate about what the state can and cannot afford in the future.”

“That is the responsible way – the honest way – to reduce spending in the years ahead and avoid painful higher taxes.”

The Budget will mean cuts in health and education

Research by Vince Cable shows that figures released by the Government showed a drop in expenditure in 2010/11 of £2.3 billion for the NHS and £600 million for the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Vince Cable said: “The Government has been desperate to claim it can make significant efficiency savings but without saying where.

“It is now clear that the axe will fall on £3bn of health and education spending.

“The Government must now be honest about what it is actually cutting; it will certainly not save £3bn by cutting back on paperclips

Every Picture tells a story

And all you need to do is keep them on file and change Labour to Conservative in Five Years Time. I hope people don’t forget the Thatcher legacy.I remember no jobs,strikes, riots, the rich -poor gap, it great to see things don’t really change that much.

Liberal Democrats attacked by Salford Labour for not speaking up for the vulnerable?

Why?

Because it voted with the dreaded tories for a 10p increase

in bus fares for children. Why to balance a budget, Makes more sense than what Labour are doing.