Tories mocked for ‘people’s bonus’
By politics.co.uk staff
Tory proposals for a ‘people’s bank bonus’ have come under fire as ignorant and cynical.
The plans, announced by George Osborne over the weekend, would see Brits offered a chance to buy a stake in the state-owned banks when they come to be sold off.
The policy is designed to give those whose taxes went towards supporting the banks an opportunity to buy shares at a discounted price with special offers to young people and those on modest incomes.
“Taxpayers bailed out the banks, so they deserve a ‘people’s bank bonus’ when the time comes to sell the government shares,” Mr Osborne, shadow chancellor, said.
“This is a golden opportunity to start building a savings society so that more people have a stake in the future of our economy.”
But Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said: “Dangling this prospect. is Tory electioneering at its most cynical.
“They have no understanding of the economy they are aspiring to run.
“Actively encouraging people on very low incomes to invest in a volatile share market beggars belief and shows just how removed the Tories are from everyday reality.
“A young couple on low income is more concerned with putting food on the table than speculating on the stock market.”
