Budget Press Release by Bernie Grant

About this item

This press release, issued by Bernie Grant MP in November 1996, critiques the UK government's budget for disproportionately harming Black families. Grant argues that the budget's cuts to welfare and public services will severely affect Black communities, many of whom were already economically vulnerable. The release highlights structural racism embedded in economic policies and warns of widened social inequalities.

Key points:
– Bernie Grant describes the 1996 budget as an attack on Black families, emphasizing its disproportionate negative impact.
– Cuts to lone parent benefits and childcare funding are expected to hinder Black women’s employment opportunities.
– Many Black individuals fall within the lowest paid brackets, receiving little benefit from tax cuts but facing increased charges.
– Council tax rises will affect mostly inner-city residents, where many Black families live, leading to cuts in vital local services.
– Grant criticizes the budget for favoring white middle-class voters ahead of the election, exacerbating racial economic inequality.

Bernie Grant was a pioneering Black British MP and activist, known for confronting institutional racism and economic injustice. This document reflects his commitment to exposing how government policies could perpetuate racial disparities, linking local government funding, anti-racism efforts, and the struggle for economic justice in Black British communities during the 1990s.

Source note: The OCR transcript appears generally clear, though some formatting irregularities exist. The content is presented as a direct press release with no evident distortions.