Osborne sets sights at minority and OAP voters

The economy maybe improving however let’s face facts this was not at the rate Chancellor George Osborne had predicted. For the average man and woman in the street, George Osborne’s budget will be the defining point in the lead up to the General Election.

Shortly before George Osborne departed Downing Street, reporters speculated on how Osborne was going to deliver the budget at the same time as announcing that the austerity will most likely continue for another four years.

Aspects of the budget was welcomed such as the re classification of Airport Duty Tax (APD), however skeptics believed the budget was simply a way of trying to entice the minority and elderly vote in the run up to the election.

MP for Tottenham David Lammy said: V pleased to hear APD reform that I’ve pushed for. New system much fairer & won’t unfairly penalise Caribbean communities. #Budget2014

There’s no doubt that people power certainly influenced this decision. Recent debates such as Jamaica Nationals Caribbean summit highlighted the impact APD had on tourism and individuals. Flyer Newspaper’s Christmas publication laid bare the government’s intention to re-align the unjust system.

Responding to the reclassification of APD bands a statement on behalf of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation stated:

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is delighted with today’s announcement by the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, that the Air Passenger Duty (APD) will be reformed from next year.

The Chancellor has announced that from April of 2015, APD will be simplified into a two band system: Band A for short haul flights of less than 2000 miles from London and Band B for all long haul flights more than 2000 miles from London. The new Band B will be charged at the planned rate in 2015-16 (£71 for reduced rate passengers and £142 for standard rate passengers).

The CTO Chairman, Beverly Nicholson-Doty said: “This is a complete victory for the Caribbean, which, led by the CTO, has been lobbying against the unfair system which charged a higher rate of APD on flights to Barbados than Hawaii and placed the United States at a competitive advantage, We are delighted that the Chancellor has finally accepted the Caribbean’s proposal made in November 2010 to return to the simpler and fairer two band system.”

“We want to thank everyone who has supported our lobby, including Caribbean Governments, our partners, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, British MPs and peers, the Caribbean High Commissioners in London, Caribbean Ambassadors in Brussels, the Diaspora, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the World Travel and Tourism Council and the airlines and travel companies.”

“Rest assured that the CTO, with support of our partners, will continue to advocate on behalf of the Caribbean tourism sector. We will now proceed to examine all the implications of this very positive development and advise our members accordingly.”

So is this simply George Osborne dangling a carrot at the electorate or is this Government Really On Your Side?

Reading between the lines issues such as the welfare cap, unemployment and addressing the increasing divide between the rich and poor was not addressed.