47.7% of voters say that they would be happy to see higher borrowing if it meant higher spending on creating jobs and stimulating economic growth, whilst 39.2% said that they would prefer the government not to borrow more — even if that meant less investment in jobs and growth. Unsurprisingly Labour voters were most supportive of investment in jobs and growth (it having been a mantra for the party over the past two years) with 70.6% backing such a course of action. Yet a significant 22.2% of Labour voters would prefer the government to avoid borrowing more — even if that means less growth and fewer jobs.
Now it's just an opinion poll. But it's a reliable, independent poll, and I think it's telling. The cuts and austerity narrative is not nearly as strong as people think: in fact, if presented in the right way it is a minority view.
All political parties need to take note. The idea that cuts are good for us and the pain means it is working is moving into history.
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And that’s without Labour making any real case for counter-cyclical spending at all. Just imagine what the public might think if they encountered any political narratives besides Austerity and Austerity-Lite.
The 39.2% require education…
If the private sector can’t or won’t provide the jobs…..why is it that lessons from history are so easily forgotten!
“Almost half the UK would support increased borrowing to create jobs — politicians please note”
They already have, it doesn’t cost them a penny… http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2013/03/23/two-workfare-exploiters-shut-down-in-edinburgh/
“The scheme for ‘hardening’ in Labour Camps (on penalty of loss of the dole) was devised by Baldwin’s Tory government, but was carried through with Ramsay MacDonald’s Labour Government and expanded by the 1931 National Government. They were supported by the TUC as well as the Labour Party, and were opposed and exposed only by the National Unemployed Workers Movement, in which the Communist Party was the leading influence.”
http://sites.scran.ac.uk/redclyde/redclyde/rc138.htm
Wasn’t aware of those ‘forced’ labour camps – but looks like history repeating itself again as we move deeper into what Michael Hudson calls ‘debt peonage’.
Looks like Labour have completely flunked it again (quelle surprise) with promises of more austerity to prop up the rich – Milliband has obviously been unable to resist the lure of Blair’s psychopathology. Oh for something to vote for!
Or alternatively they could try and become more competitive and create an incentive for private business to create jobs.
Also, after the Govt borrows this money what are they going to create jobs in and how are they going to repay the funds borrowed?
Let’s build what we need – that’s what life is about
And it’s either repaid from tax – or simply not at all – which i the gov’ts option – it creates the money after all
Big business has had incentive after incentive to create jobs.
It just don’t deliver.
Perversely the more incentives it receives the less jobs it creates. Take a look at the US.
I’ve lost count of the failed projects covered with big business fingerprints.
It’s time it received some of the same of the “tough love” dished out to the poor, the sick and the old.