Telegraph publish Left Foot Forward’s “red lines” progressive PBR letter

Two weeks ago Left Foot Forward published our “Red Lines for a progressive PBR”, the key points of which have been printed in a letter in today’s Daily Telegraph – two days before the pre-Budget report.

Telegraph-letter-B8-07-12-09

The letter reads:

SIR – With the pre-Budget report due on Wednesday, the Government must put in place measures that secure the recovery.

There are signs that the decline in gross domestic product and employment are reversing, but we must not risk a “double dip” recession by slashing public spending prematurely.

Such action could result in a second recession, increased unemployment benefits and a lower tax take – worsening the deficit in the long run. We therefore call on the Chancellor to:

• Make the Keynesian case for budget deficits;

• Ensure that any deficit reduction plan is flexible and based on cautious growth projections;

• Outline how it will return government receipts to at least 38pc of GDP over the medium term;

• Help those most in need by finding the £4bn needed to meet the 2010 child poverty target and protecting the labour market interventions already in place;

• Gear growth policies towards investment, for example, in infrastructure, social housing, and green technologies.

Dr Stephanie Blankenburg (University of London, SOAS)

David Coats

Tony Dolphin (Senior Economist, ippr)

Prof George Irvin (University of London, SOAS)

Stewart Lansley (author, Unfair to Middling)

Dr Adam Leaver (Manchester Business School)

Adam Lent (Head of Economic and Social Affairs, TUC)

Martin McIvor (Editor, Renewal)

Richard Murphy (Tax Research UK)

Sophia Parker (Women’s Budget Group)

Howard Reed (Landman Economics)

Rachel Reeves (Labour PPC, Leeds West)

John Ross (Editor, Socialist Economic Bulletin)

Prof Jonathan Rutherford (Editor, Soundings Journal)

Krystian Seibert (Policy Network)

Prof Prem Sikka (Essex Business School)

Clifford Singer (The Other Taxpayers’ Alliance)

Will Straw (Editor, Left Foot Forward)

Ducnan Weldon (Partner, Senhouse Capital LLP)

Prof Karel Williams (University of Manchester)

• Left Foot Forward will be holding a PBR Live blog on Wednesday; sign up for a reminder

http://twitter.com/jon2aylor/status/6433324800 Jonathan Taylor

RT @leftfootfwd: Telegraph publish Left Foot Forward’s “red lines” progressive PBR letter: http://is.gd/5f0Vp >live event looks like fun…
http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2009/12/07/from-the-telegraph-on-the-need-to-avoid-cuts-and-pre-budget-red-lines/ Tax Research UK » From the Telegraph .. on the need to avoid cuts and Pre-Budget red lines

[...] letter was in the Telegraph this morning: SIR – With the pre-Budget report due on Wednesday, the Government must put in place measures [...]
http://twitter.com/bencooper86/status/6433476127 Ben Cooper

RT @leftfootfwd Telegraph publish Left Foot Forward’s “red lines” progressive PBR letter: http://is.gd/5f0Vp here's hoping Darling delivers!
http://billyblofeld.blogspot.com/ Billy Blofeld

I imagine that Gordon will instead be concentrating on gimmicks which are intended to entrap the Tories and make them look like toffs and friends of the rich and not the many.

Secondly, I suspect that Gordon hopes that the ensuing row about the dividing lines, will stop the media questioning the appalling figures Darling will have to present in the PBR.

The countries economic stability is not Gordon’s highest priority. Gordon comes first, then Gordon’s mates, then the Labour party. The national interest is not even next on the list, because hatred of the Tories comes 4th.
http://twitter.com/othertpa/status/6433622127 Clifford Singer

RT @leftfootfwd Telegraph publish "red lines" progressive PBR letter http://is.gd/5f0Vp
http://twitter.com/touchstoneblog/status/6433722018 ToUChstone blog

Adam's one of the signatories to @LeftFootFwd's 'wonks united' letter to the Telegraph ahead of the #PBR09: http://ow.ly/Jx0b
http://twitter.com/leejamesbrown/status/6433827780 lee james brown

RT @leftfootfwd: Telegraph publish Left Foot Forward’s “red lines” progressive PBR letter: http://is.gd/5f0Vp
http://twitter.com/bryonyvk/status/6435659698 Bryony Victoria King

RT @leftfootfwd: Telegraph publish Left Foot Forward’s “red lines” progressive PBR letter: http://is.gd/5f0Vp
http://called2account.com/?p=4065 From the Telegraph .. on the need to avoid cuts and Pre-Budget red lines | called2account

[...] letter was in the Telegraph this morning: SIR – With the pre-Budget report due on Wednesday, the Government must put in place measures [...]
http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2009/12/web-links-for-7th-december-2009/ Web links for 7th December 2009 | ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC

[...] Telegraph publish Left Foot Forward’s “red lines” progressive PBR letter Adam is one of the signatories to this letter to the Telegraph, warning of the dangers of a ‘double dip’ recession if public spending is cut prematurely. [...]
http://www.gb-legal.com Will

It is a shame that politicians seem more intent on playing one-upmanship on issues such as inheritance tax rather than concentrating on package of measure to clearly demonstrate how our country is going to become solvent again.

Taking in measures to really look after the old and the sick.

Regards
Will
http://www.gb-legal.com
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2009/12/pbr-must-deliver-strong-sustainable-growth/ PBR must deliver strong, sustainable growth | Left Foot Forward

[...] Labour PPC for Leeds West; she is a signatory to Left Foot Forward’s “Progressive Red Lines” letter in yesterday’s Telegraph Share | Permalink | Leave a comment Click here to [...]
http://twitter.com/womensbudgetgrp/status/6492018122 Women’s Budget Group

@joshfg we had ours in the telegraph http://tinyurl.com/yb3xcu9 – WBG supports @leftfootforward letter
http://twitter.com/womensbudgetgrp/status/6492354831 Women’s Budget Group

WBG supported letter in telegraph http://tinyurl.com/yb3xcu9 – WBG supports @leftfootfwd letter #PBR09
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2009/12/assessing-the-pre-budget-report/ Assessing the pre-Budget report | Left Foot Forward

[...] Dolphin, fellow signatory to the red lines letter to the Telegraph, gives his assessment on Progress: “Good in parts but opportunities were missed for more [...]
http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/09/13/david-milibands-economic-policy-requires-a-second-look/ David Miliband’s economic policy requires a second look | Liberal Conspiracy

[...] be clear though – I argued for a second stimulus in March 2009, and again in December 2009. I would have made that argument at budget 2010 if I wasn’t barred for publicly commenting by [...]