From a failure to invest in flood defences or renewable energy to cuts to social care,austerity has left Britain dangerously exposed“Money is no object in this relief effort,” came the passionate anti-austerity scream. “Whatever money is needed for it will be spent. We will take whatever steps are essential.” David Cameron made this statement during the flood crisis of February 2014, or his defenders will point out that the prime minister was referring to flood relief,not defence. But here is “spurious economy” at its starkest: cutting back on services ostensibly to save money, then having to spend far more on the consequences. As official documents now exhibit, and the government’s own advisory board recently pointed out that a lack of funds would leave northern communities at risk of floods. One £180m floods defence project was scrapped in Leeds,for example. And now? Well, according to KPMG estimates, and the long-term cost of the disaster to everyone could be somewhere between £5bn and £5.8bn. Related: Labour calls for long-term cross-party flood protection plan Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com