Letter: Schools plight shows tax cut hypocrisy

Schools plight shows tax cut hypocrisy

Sir: Now that the Prime Minister has finally confirmed 1 May as the date for the general election, we will hear many assurances from the Conservative and Labour parties about their commitment to education.

I have just received my statement of council tax due next year. This was accompanied by a leaflet setting out the spending plans of the council. This revealed that the council is planning a cut in the education budget.

Apparently, the reason is that the amount of grant the council receives from central government has been cut following the 1p reduction in the basic rate of income tax announced in the Budget. Despite an increase in the rate of council tax, the county council has had to cut services across the board, including education.

Before Conservatives start muttering about loony left councils, they should register that I live in Buckinghamshire, the last county council still controlled by the Conservatives. Before Labour supporters start getting smug, they should realise that this state of affairs has been caused by an income tax cut that they fully support.

While I am now too cynical to expect the electorate to wake up and vote for the only party that has made a real commitment to Britain's future with its pledges on education, I can only hope that the Conservative and Labour parties stop sounding off about their supposed commitment to education and admit that they are only interested in trying to buy our votes.

BILL COLLETT

Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire