George Osborne holidays in Venice while Brits are left to tackle floods and power cuts

Venice: It's alright for some
Matt Sprake Photography
Chancellor George Osborne has left Brits battling floods and power-cuts to enjoy ‘la ­dolce vita’ along the canals of Venice.

He flew off on Boxing Day and – as thousands of us struggled with deluges and no electricity – landed in Italy for a New Year break with his family.

But his decision to turn his back on austerity Britain at a time when entire ­communities have been ravaged by floods has ­sparked outrage.

Karl Turner, Labour MP for Hull East, told the Sunday People: “This is yet more proof that we really are not all in this together.

“While the complacent Chancellor jets off for another holiday, thousands of families are facing their bleakest Christmas for years.

“We have seen shocking devastation from flooding, major travel problems and power-cuts across the UK.

“And as usual, when the going gets tough Osborne heads for the hills.”

Mr Turner added: “I’m sure the ­millionaires he gave a tax-break to will relate to this but the vast majority of people will see it as evidence that
this government is totally out of touch with reality.”

The Chancellor – who was yesterday celebrating being named Briton of the Year by the Times newspaper – is ­expected to spend a week in Venice with his millionaire writer wife Frances and their two children.



Austerity: George Osborne
Getty Images
Their stay, which could take in one of the city’s world famous masked balls, will be a complete contrast to the way most Brits are spending the festive break, struggling to get by as storms continue to batter the country.

Heavy rain has overwhelmed flood defences across Britain causing misery from Cumbria in the north to Cornwall in the south-west.

Prime Minister David Cameron was berated by furious locals on a walkabout in flood-hit Yalding, Kent, because power firms were so slow to fix blackouts.

And he was last night under growing pressure to call a meeting of the emergency group Cobra – which would see Mr Osborne have to cut short his holiday.

Tom Greatrex, Labour MP for Rutherglen, said: “The Government and energy companies should be ­working round the clock to get everyone reconnected, especially with warnings of more bad weather on the way.

“Mr Cameron has serious questions to answer about why it’s taking so long.

“If the power supply is not urgently restored he should consider convening Cobra to ensure everything possible is done to solve this problem.”

In fact, Mr Osborne could take time out from enjoying Italy’s famous “sweet life” to check out the brand-new flood ­defences Venice opened this year.

The city – which has inspired such literary masterpieces as Shakespeare’s play The Merchant Of Venice and Thomas Mann’s novella Death In Venice – is made up of 118 tiny islands and has been plagued by floods throughout its history.



Flooding: Workmen clear water from a home in Yalding
PA
The rate it’s been sinking into the mud has got worse in recent decades and the Italian government decided to invest more than £5billion in a 10-year scheme to build an ultra-modern flood protection scheme, called Moses.

Four giant gates have been fitted as part of the project.

These can be closed when tides are particularly high – which should save Venice and its priceless medieval ­buildings and treasures from the worst of any future surges.

Experts claim they should be able to cope with flood-tides up to 10ft higher than normal.

Although critics have slammed the massive costs, supporters insist the defences are the only long-term hope of saving the city they affectionately call La Serenissima.

Back home, the Chancellor’s autumn statement saw him pledge to increase spending on UK flood defences.

He announced an extra £120million to add to £2billion already spent on protecting vulnerable areas.

And he outlined plans to improve forecasting and defences in a bid to safeguard homes and businesses.



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...he said before that we must help the most needy in society, as well as his famous ' we're all in this together'...

As you know, that Tory motto means the exact opposite .

Hope somebody pushes the ugly smug bastard over that bridge.

Joy Division wrote:...he said before that we must help the most needy in society, as well as his famous ' we're all in this together'...

As you know, that Tory motto means the exact opposite .

Hope somebody pushes the ugly smug bastard over that bridge.

 ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/: 

The most needy in society to him are the rich and the bankers etc.. in need of more tax cuts and increased bonuses!  

They'll be laughing on the other side of their faces when the mansion tax is brought in and they are made to pay their fair share in tax.    

So have 10,000s of others who can afford it - including Labour MPs, supporters, charity bosses, union leaders.

Etc etc etc.

I do hope we are all 'in it' refers to the canals in his case lol