'Tax the rich to combat recession' demands TUC
Wednesday 17 March 2010
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EmailUnion and business leaders have made last-minute presentations to the government prior to next week's Budget, with differing views on how to lead the country out of recession.
The TUC warned that the economy was "far too fragile" to withstand spending cuts, while the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) called for a clear deficit reduction plan.
The union umbrella organisation argued strongly against cutting pay or jobs in the public sector this year.
General secretary Brendan Barber said: "For the medium term, the Budget needs policies that will address the structural deficit once growth is established by making those who caused it in the first place bear the burden of putting it right - and that means taxing the super-rich."
The BCC countered that a freeze in the public-sector wage bill and reform of public-sector pensions should form part of a plan to cut Britain's deficit.
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