Margaret Mullane MP has given a welcome to the measures announced in the Budget. The emphasis on a major boost to investment will start to fix the NHS and begin the process rebuilding our economy and creating secure jobs.
Margaret said: “After 14 years of Conservative failure and economic mismanagement, Labour’s first Budget has set Britain on the path to renewal. Whilst we can't fix the mistakes of a decade overnight, this Budget will be good for Dagenham and Rainham.
It was my predecessor Jon Cruddas who spearheaded the National Minimum Wage under the last Labour Government, and Labour are now once again transforming the lives of working people by raising the National Living Wage so that a full-time worker will gain £1,400 a year. This will directly improve the living standards of thousands of local people. Raising the carers’ allowance is another important measure, finally recognising the vital and previously undervalued work of so many.
I was also delighted to hear the Chancellor announce that fuel duty will be frozen for another year, with the history of Dagenham Ford and many reliant on their vehicle for work, this will be felt in the pockets of local people. It was also great to learn that after so many years when the Income Tax thresholds were being frozen, this Government is to raise these in line with inflation when the freeze imposed by the previous Conservative Government ends. Another measure to ensure that hard working people see more of their earnings.
The Budget includes a Government plan to permanently lower Business Rates for small retail, hospitality and leisure properties, a move that is designed to protect and boost local high streets. This will be a major benefit to shops and shopping parades across Dagenham and Rainham.
The tax rises in the Budget are being asked of the wealthiest in society and businesses to fund desperately needed public services. The NHS will get the resources to cut waiting times with 40,000 extra hospital appointments a week, lifting the capacity for more than 30,000 additional procedures. The funding will also be going to our education system supporting the recruitment of 6,500 teachers and raising the school’s budget by £2.3 billion next year.
After years of smoke and mirrors Conservative Budgets it was refreshing to hear frank, honest measures that will improve living standards for ordinary people. The focus for Labour in Government is to restore the public services that we all rely on, and with councils able to retain 100% of Right to Buy receipts we will get Britain building the social housing people in areas like ours desperately need.
We promised change and now we are delivering it. This Budget is the first step in building a fairer and better future for our country. I will be making sure that Dagenham and Rainham directly benefits from these measures.”
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