Last Updated: 2 July 2010

Let's tell the prime minister what fairness means

(02/07/10) David Cameron has written to public service workers asking them how to reduce the deficit in a "fair and responsible way" – and UNISON wants everyone to take up this challenge and tell the prime minister just what fairness means.

To start with, a 'Robin Hood Tax' on the banks – together with simple measures to reduce tax evasion and avoidance by big corporations and the super-rich – could raise more than £50bn a year.

That's more than enough to reverse the £31.9bn cuts to public services and welfare spending that were announced by George Osborne in his emergency budget last month.

But what else can we tell him?

Let's make it clear that:

• the coalition government has no democratic mandate for the measures it is proposing – the Conservatives failed to win a majority and the Liberal Democrats campaigned against early cuts and against a rise in VAT;
• deep and rapid cuts to public spending are irresponsible – they'll make the deficit worse by weakening the economy and adding to unemployment;
• cutting public sector jobs costs more in lost tax and extra benefits than it saves;
• raising VAT is regressive, putting the heaviest burden on the poorest;
• cutting public services is even more unfair – research commissioned by UNISON shows that it hits the poorest households six times harder than the richest;
• cut unnecessary military expenditure – such as Trident: it's estimated that this will cost £76 billion over 40 years;
• cut out the profiteers – excessive reliance on consultants, agencies, private providers and PFI schemes is creating additional costs and bureaucracy.

So let's make sure that the prime minister gets the message by clicking here and leaving your comments before 8 July. And let us know what you've said by emailing millionvoices@unison.co.uk.

You can find more ideas in UNISON's alternative budget here

Find out about our Million Voices campaign here.