Public services are key to building the recovery.

Rather than being an obstacle to growth, public services are fundamental to developing the North West economy, post-recession.

That’s because much private industry depends on a strong public sector for its health and vitality. Public services create jobs, put money in people’s pockets and gives them spending power.

Healthy public services ensure healthy communities, a healthy society and a healthy economy.

* Public spending drives economic growth

Public services buy huge amounts of goods and services from the private sector. For every £ spent by public services, 70 pence is directly invested in local communities. Half of all private sector contracts are given by the public sector. Without public spending, many private businesses would go to the wall. Spending cuts will destroy jobs in public services – and private industry.

* Supporting the recovery and helping our young people will need more investment in public services – not less

Young people are being hit hardest by this recession. Investing in social housing, public sector apprenticeships, skills and education gives our young people the opportunities they need and helps us lay strong foundations for recovery.

* Public services did not cause this recession – we should not pay the price for it

This global recession was caused by speculative, reckless and greedy investments by the financial services industry and the banks. But while the bankers are still getting their massive bonuses, the public are now facing cuts in their services. Fairness must be at the centre of the recovery.

* Cuts in public services will stop the recovery in its tracks

As we move out of recession, it is vital that we support the fragile recovery. Cutting jobs and scrapping services in the public sector will send unemployment soaring and damage life for millions of people in the North West. Putting more workers on the dole queue scrapheap will not help us out of recession and will cost taxpayers more in benefit payments. And cutting what public services can buy from local businesses will only plunge us back into recession.

* Cuts in public services will damage communities in the North West

Our region depends on good-quality public services. We are proud of our public services, which create employment and improve the quality of life for millions of people here. Cuts in public spending will create higher unemployment in the North West with knock-on damage to local families and communities.

* Cuts in public services harm the most vulnerable in our community

It is the poorest and most disadvantaged who rely on public services the most. Decent schools and hospitals, good quality child and social care, secure neighbourhoods and reliable services all make a huge difference to our quality of life. But it is the most vulnerable who will suffer most if spending is cut. The next time a politician, pundit or commentator demands cuts in public services, ask them which public services THEY depend on.

Public services are the key to recovery

Public servants are ‘Proud to serve the public’.

We recognise that public services make a huge contribution to our economy and our society. Without them, we would all be the poorer.

Public servants have always been at the forefront of change in making public services more efficient and effective.

Public servants will continue to play their part and do all they can to improve services and spur our recovery in the North West.

But as the recovery grows, the decision-makers must also take tough action to ensure we never again allow the financial sector to bring our economy to the brink of disaster.

They must tackle the root causes of the global downturn to help build a fairer, more stable system in the future.

They must:

• Properly control and regulate the City of London whose reckless and greedy activities have fuelled the recession

• Clamp down on tax avoidance and tax loopholes which cost the country £39 billion every year – the cost of poverty in Britain

• Introduce a Robin Hood tax of just 0.05 per cent on all financial transactions, raising up to £450 billion

  

• Introduce a fairer tax and National Insurance system and fairer wages to boost demand and help sustain a growing economy

• Build a stable, responsible and more accountable financial system which does not depend on sub-prime mortgages, ‘dodgy’ loans, greedy speculation and obscene bonuses

• Go Green – by investing in the jobs of the future: clean energy, electric vehicles, high-speed rail and public programmes, including home insulation

• Secure international agreement on policies which put the interests of working people first