Rosemary Byrne and Tommy Sheridan, Co-Convenors of Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement unveiled their own “mini-budget” in response to Gordon Brown fiddling with taxes while Baghdad burns. In 2003 Brown, when asked how much the war in Iraq would cost, replied “as much as it takes. Solidarity calls on him to apply the same principle to the war on poverty.

South of Scotland MSP Byrne challenged Brown to stand by his own beliefs and invest in education and young people:

“In 1993, in his book “Where There’s Greed” Gordon Brown claimed that the Tories decision to abolish benefits for 16-18 year olds was directly responsible for a rise in youth crime and inner city riots. Now that he has been in charge of our country’s purse strings for almost ten years it is time he stood by that and re-introduced equality for young adults in the benefits system. Brown, like me and other politicians, went to university at a time when students could claim housing benefit, income support during summer and Christmas breaks and a full maintenance grant. Yet, he has joined with the Tories in closing that door to students today. It is time to invest in our futures by re-establishing free education for all.”

Glasgow MSP Sheridan pointed Gordon Brown in the direction of where his money for investment might be:

“In an answer to a question in the commons recently, the New Labour Government revealed that cost of replacing and maintaining Trident for 30 years would be at least £76 Billion. The people of Britain deserve the choice to decide whether they want that money spent on weapons of mass destruction, or spent on a decent pension, a decent minimum wage and investment in good quality social housing to rent.

“Brown today has unveiled a new batch of “green” taxes. In Solidarity we also want to see green taxes. We call on Brown to increase taxes for Sir Philip Green and his fellow billionaires, to redistribute to the poor of the UK in the form of wages, benefits and pensions.”

Solidarity mini-budget:

Scrap trident with no replacement.
Tax the Rich.
Re-introduce benefits for 16-18 year olds
Re-introduce free education for all with full student grants
A pension of £200 per week for all pensioners
A minimum wage of £8 per hour
Build 250,000 new houses for rent at affordable rates.
Rent breaks and benefits for those returning to work.