PEOPLE not profit is the call from the South Herts Socialist Alliance in proposing their alternative budget.

Mr Jon Berry, the Socialist Alliance prospective parliamentary candidate for Watford has called on Chancellor Mr Gordon Brown, to start spending some of the budget surplus and help boost public services.

A spokesperson for the alliance said: "Our budget will break all the rules, and that is an illustration of our intent, we are not tinkering with capitalism but building a new kind of society where the needs of ordinary people come first." A few key points of the Socialist Alliance budget are listed below.

A 25 per cent increase in public spending financed by tougher taxation on Britain's millionaires, on corporate profits and capital gains in the finance sector.

VAT abolished except on high ticket goods and services.

Income tax abolished for those on average wage or less.

A minimum wage of £7 per hour, with pensions and state benefits set at the level of the minimum wage: £280 a week, with no means testing.

Raise the Employer National Insurance Contribution from 12 per cent to the European average of 28 per cent.

Release capital receipts from council house sales to fund a massive social housing programme.

A 25 per cent increase in NHS spending, covered by spending the £18 billion surplus on healthcare.

Abolish tuition fees and bring back student grants.

Re-nationalise the railways, buses and British Airways. Pouring billions into a national integrated transport plan.