Nick Raynsford slammed the deep cuts in public spending announced this afternoon by George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Amongst the many cuts to local public service announced were: a 60% reduction in spending on new, affordable, homes; a huge hike in rents for new social tenants living in either council or housing association properties, which could see rents in SE10 rise by over £200 a week, and in Woolwich by £100; a 30% cut in funding for services provided by local councils, impacting on some of the most vulnerable people within our community; the ending of the Working Neighbourhood Fund which Greenwich Council had used to provide jobs for over 200 young people; the axing of the Thames Gateway; and a 20% cut to policing budgets which risks a return to the high crime levels not seen since the Tories were last in power.

Nick said:

“The Spending Review will have disastrous implications for Greenwich and Woolwich, leading to: a steep rise in unemployment, a real risk of an increase in crime, the halting of much essential regeneration & new house building and the deterioration of local public services.

“By severely cutting back on the number of new homes to be built this government has washed its hands of its responsibility to anyone looking to secure a home fit for them and their family.

“Never in my entire political life have I seen such a callous and damaging attack on the living standards of millions of our fellow citizens.”