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In Latin America… why not here?
Labour, Conservatives, Lib-Dems and UKIP are all planning to cut spending on health, education and welfare, despite the UK being the world’s 6th richest country.
Most politicians tell us that there is no alternative to cutting government services, restricting support to those without a job or selling public utilities and public services to private companies to be run for private profit. Without this programme of “austerity” they say that Britain will fail. Several countries in Latin America have rejected the rule of big business corporations and are doing things differently. Why not here?
We are asking people to send a postcard to their local prospective parliamentary candidates asking about these particular issues. A list of the local candidates can be found here. To print out a list click here.
Proportion of GDP spent on education:
Cuba: 12.8% - UK: 6.2%
The coalition government have abolished Education Maintenance Allowance, cut funding to children’s centres and increased university fees to £9,000 per year.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics/World Bank http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Total spent on nuclear weapons and their development in 2011:
Latin America: £0.00 - UK: £5.5 billion
£5.5 billion would pay every nurse in Britain an extra £1000 every year AND put £1000 extra money into every classroom in Britain every year for the next 26 years.
Source: Global Zero/ICAN http://www.icanw.org/the-facts/catastrophic-harm/a-diversion-of-public-resources/
Annual spend on outsourcing:
Venezuela: £0.00 - UK: £88 billion
It is illegal in Venezuela to use subcontractors to deliver services. UK spending on outsourcing doubled in the last year, leading to lower wages and loss of pension rights.
Source: International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/uk-government-outsourcing-doubles-despite-g4s-serco-atos-scandals-1455630
Unemployment rate:
Ecuador: 4.5% - UK: 7.9%
There are currently 1.96 million people unemployed in the UK. The coalition government introduced the bedroom tax and is scrapping Disability Living Allowance.
Source: International Labour Organization/World Bank http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
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