Tory MP accuses Left of hijacking the term ‘austerity’ to delude voters
The term austerity was “hijacked” by the left during the election campaign to “delude voters into thinking that some belt tightening and control of government spending was almost evil”, a Conservative MP has said.
Richard Drax (South Dorset) told the Commons that balancing the country’s budget is crucial to avoid saddling future generations with huge debt.
The Tory backbencher, who was re-elected for a second term last month, said: “During the election, I couldn’t help but notice the level of vitriol – mainly I have to say from the left.
“The word austerity was hijacked and repeatedly and contemptuously spat out to delude voters into thinking that some belt tightening and control of government spending was almost evil.
“Balancing the family budget is not evil, nor is attending to the country’s. In the latter’s case it was an imperative lest we were to leave our children and grandchildren saddled with debt and the inevitable misery that goes with it.”
Mr Drax also used his contribution in the Queen’s Speech debate to question the Government’s policy of extending right to buy to housing association tenants.
He said: “It all sounds very enticing and brings back memories of Mrs Thatcher’s successful and empowering policy of allowing tenants to buy their own council house.
“There’s no doubt that the first generation will be most grateful, but what about those who follow behind?
“In seats like mine which is dominated by the green belt, there are few places to build new homes.
“Selling off association homes we do have could surely lead to a shortage of affordable housing stock. Can I ask the government to add some flexibility into this policy particularly in rural seats like mine?”
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