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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/20/budget-women-disadvantaged-worse-theresa-may-tories-u-turn-austerity
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| This budget will make things even worse for women and the disadvantaged | This budget will make things even worse for women and the disadvantaged |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Austerity, the Tories’ failed economic project, has hit women and ethnic minority communities the hardest. Today, we say: no more. This week’s budget must not be another veiled attack on marginalised and disadvantaged groups. | Austerity, the Tories’ failed economic project, has hit women and ethnic minority communities the hardest. Today, we say: no more. This week’s budget must not be another veiled attack on marginalised and disadvantaged groups. |
| The government is well aware of structural and systemic gender and racial inequalities across our society, from discrimination in the workplace, unemployment and underemployment, the gender and racial pay gaps, to the over-representation of black people in the criminal justice system and under-representation of women and people of colour in public life. | The government is well aware of structural and systemic gender and racial inequalities across our society, from discrimination in the workplace, unemployment and underemployment, the gender and racial pay gaps, to the over-representation of black people in the criminal justice system and under-representation of women and people of colour in public life. |
| So, what has the government done to address it? An audit. | So, what has the government done to address it? An audit. |
| Last year Theresa May announced her big plan to tackle racial inequalities was to bring all the data together, on a website, which it took over a year to publish. The most over-hyped Dropbox in history told us, to no one’s surprise, that racial disparity is alive and well in our society. | Last year Theresa May announced her big plan to tackle racial inequalities was to bring all the data together, on a website, which it took over a year to publish. The most over-hyped Dropbox in history told us, to no one’s surprise, that racial disparity is alive and well in our society. |
| We need action, not audits. | We need action, not audits. |
| But how can we expect action from a government whose policies are part of the problem? The “burning injustices” May said she would address, have been exacerbated by her government’s economic agenda. Far from tackling the burning injustices, she has added fuel to the fire. | But how can we expect action from a government whose policies are part of the problem? The “burning injustices” May said she would address, have been exacerbated by her government’s economic agenda. Far from tackling the burning injustices, she has added fuel to the fire. |
| In 2010, the Conservatives unleashed their austerity agenda, which punished the many while enriching an elite few. All the evidence showed that this would hit hardest those groups already suffering from marginalisation and discrimination. | In 2010, the Conservatives unleashed their austerity agenda, which punished the many while enriching an elite few. All the evidence showed that this would hit hardest those groups already suffering from marginalisation and discrimination. |
| And that’s exactly what happened. Women have borne the brunt of 86% of the government’s cuts since 2010, and black,Asian and minority ethnic households have lost out more than their white counterparts. And it’s only going to get worse. | And that’s exactly what happened. Women have borne the brunt of 86% of the government’s cuts since 2010, and black,Asian and minority ethnic households have lost out more than their white counterparts. And it’s only going to get worse. |
| By 2020, as a result of tax and benefit changes, single mothers, who represent 92% of single parents, will experience an average drop in living standards of 18%. Black and Asian households with the lowest fifth of incomes will experience the biggest drop in living standards of 19.2% and 20.1% respectively. | By 2020, as a result of tax and benefit changes, single mothers, who represent 92% of single parents, will experience an average drop in living standards of 18%. Black and Asian households with the lowest fifth of incomes will experience the biggest drop in living standards of 19.2% and 20.1% respectively. |
| There are real risks that women, ethnic minorities … will be disproportionately affected by cuts to public spending | There are real risks that women, ethnic minorities … will be disproportionately affected by cuts to public spending |
| And, if the government refuses to meet Labour’s call to pause and fix universal credit, by April 2021, 5.9 million women living in households eligible for universal credit under 2013 rules will lose £4,406. | And, if the government refuses to meet Labour’s call to pause and fix universal credit, by April 2021, 5.9 million women living in households eligible for universal credit under 2013 rules will lose £4,406. |
| Even May admitted this in 2010, saying: “There are real risks that women, ethnic minorities, disabled people and older people will be disproportionately affected by proposed cuts to public spending.” | Even May admitted this in 2010, saying: “There are real risks that women, ethnic minorities, disabled people and older people will be disproportionately affected by proposed cuts to public spending.” |
| Well, thanks for the warning, prime minister. And thanks for another audit that proves this warning accurate. | Well, thanks for the warning, prime minister. And thanks for another audit that proves this warning accurate. |
| We cannot go on like this. We cannot have another budget that forces disadvantaged groups to pay the price of a failed economic model. | We cannot go on like this. We cannot have another budget that forces disadvantaged groups to pay the price of a failed economic model. |
| The prime minister and her government know all too well that their policies are exacerbating inequalities, yet they refuse to change course. | The prime minister and her government know all too well that their policies are exacerbating inequalities, yet they refuse to change course. |
| Labour stands ready to build a fairer, more equal society for all. For us, tackling burning injustices won’t be a slogan, it will drive our programme for government. | Labour stands ready to build a fairer, more equal society for all. For us, tackling burning injustices won’t be a slogan, it will drive our programme for government. |
| Labour will prioritise boosting the income of women and minority ethnic communities by raising the statutory minimum wage to a real living wage of at least £10 per hour by 2020. | Labour will prioritise boosting the income of women and minority ethnic communities by raising the statutory minimum wage to a real living wage of at least £10 per hour by 2020. |
| We will introduce equal pay audit requirements for all large employers and implement the Parker review recommendations to increase diversity on the boards of Britain’s biggest companies. We will launch an inquiry into name-based employment discrimination and roll out name-blind skills based recruitment practices if necessary. | We will introduce equal pay audit requirements for all large employers and implement the Parker review recommendations to increase diversity on the boards of Britain’s biggest companies. We will launch an inquiry into name-based employment discrimination and roll out name-blind skills based recruitment practices if necessary. |
| And the next Labour government will publish equality impact assessments on all legislation. | And the next Labour government will publish equality impact assessments on all legislation. |
| I am calling on the chancellor to deliver a budget that works for, rather than further disadvantaging, women and ethnic minority communities. As a starting point, the government should publish a comprehensive equality impact assessment of the budget. They’re so fond of audits, so why not audit their own economic agenda? | I am calling on the chancellor to deliver a budget that works for, rather than further disadvantaging, women and ethnic minority communities. As a starting point, the government should publish a comprehensive equality impact assessment of the budget. They’re so fond of audits, so why not audit their own economic agenda? |
| One of my idols, Maya Angelou, said: “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” If the Tories don’t have the courage to U-turn on their unjust policies, they should hand over the policymaking to Labour. We have the courage to change course and build a society for the many, not the few. | One of my idols, Maya Angelou, said: “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” If the Tories don’t have the courage to U-turn on their unjust policies, they should hand over the policymaking to Labour. We have the courage to change course and build a society for the many, not the few. |
| • Dawn Butler is shadow minister for women and equalities and Labour MP for Brent Central | • Dawn Butler is shadow minister for women and equalities and Labour MP for Brent Central |
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| Budget 2017 (November) | Budget 2017 (November) |
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