The Cost of Living Crisis

How will the coalition government which took office in 2010 be assessed? It hopes to be credited with tackling the abuse of the welfare state and restoring the levels of employment. In reality it introduced a vicious program of cuts and intimidation against the most vulnerable of Britain's citizens; cut the living standards of those in work and oversaw a system of low paid, often casual jobs for those desperate for employment. This policy was without justification, at the time of its implementation; a small privileged group who had already grown obscenely rich were allowed to become even wealthier. The research in this book is drawn from two booklets published by the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group. These are nine, largely politically unaffiliated unions, who have campaigned vigorously against Government policy on behalf of their own members and the wider public. The author Michael Calderbank, who led the unions' research, delivers an uncompromising message; we must introduce or restore legislation that will tackle the cost of living crisis, and at the same time, make it difficult for another government, to impose policies that are so blatantly in the interests of a wealthy privileged class.