South Down MP is concerned about the effects of another Tory led government on the poorer levels of our society.[/caption]
Austerity is one of the key buzz words of the 2015 Westminster election and is at the heart of political commentary on the media.
SDLP Westminster Candidate for South Down Margaret Ritchie has warned that another Conservative-led government will bring more pain for working families and further damage Northern Ireland’s economy.
She said: “The SDLP will be firmly on the side of hard-pressed households and will fight for their interests at Westminster. Working families are facing an ever increasing strain on household budgets – from rising cost of living, from further cuts and from stagnant rates of low pay.
“The Tories’ austerity agenda has led to households being £900 worse off than in 2008, worse than any other region. Simply put, as much as the Tories keep talking about a supposed economic recovery, it is clearer than ever that this is non-existent for most people.
“While the Conservative’s want to give further tax cuts for millionaires we will be fighting to restore a 50p top rate of tax to ensure that those with the most shoulder a fair share of the burden.
“It is also often overlooked in the debate on welfare reform that many of the cuts have fallen on working people. With the Tories commitment to a further round of cuts it is naïve to think they will not be delivered through further cuts to child benefit.
“They have refused to rule out a further move to restrict child benefit for more families to the tune of £1000 a year by including this within universal credit. The SDLP will object to and vote against any such move at Westminster.
“We fully endorse raising the minimum wage and abolishing exploitative zero hour contracts. Giving people fair pay on fair terms for the work they do should be the central plank of any economy.
“This will have a ripple effect of boosting confidence throughout the whole local economy,” added Ms Ritchie.
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