Bucks MPs respond to Budget

MPs from across the county have been reacting to Wednesday’s Budget (26 November), with responses split along party lines.

Aylesbury’s Labour MP, Laura Kyrke-Smith, praised the measures announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, saying the Budget will create opportunities for young people, make life more affordable, and boost vital public services.

But Mid Bucks Conservative MP Greg Smith argued it shows the Labour Party has “given up on growth”.

Meanwhile Sarah Green, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesham and Amersham, welcomed the decision to scrap the two-child benefit cap and absorb the cost of SEND provision, but said “for millions of people struggling with higher bills, all this budget really offers is higher taxes”.

You can read, and hear, their statements, below:

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP for Aylesbury:

 "This afternoon I was in the House of Commons chamber for the Chancellor's statement on the budget.

It's a budget that shows who we in this Labour Government are here for.

It's for children who are growing up in poverty. We're lifting the two-child benefit cap to get money back into families' pockets and to transform the life chances of those kids living in poverty, including almost 2,500 children here in Aylesbury and the villages.

It's a budget for people who can't get the healthcare they need. We've made a commitment to build 250 new neighbourhood health centres, and I'll continue to fight for one of those in Aylesbury. That's on top of freezing prescription charges.

It's a budget for everyone struggling to pay their energy bills, with an average of £150 coming off bills annually from April next year, and up to £300 for poorer households.

It's a budget for our high streets and small businesses, with permanently lower tax rates for 750,000 retail and hospitality properties across the country, including in Aylesbury and on our village high streets. This is paid for by higher taxes for online retailers. 

And it's a budget for workers whose wages never go far enough. An average full-time worker on the national minimum wage will earn up to £900 extra per year next year, thanks to our increase to the national minimum wage. This will benefit 2.7 million workers across the country. 

The Chancellor has been careful in this budget, maintaining fiscal responsibility, which is vital for economic stability and growth. But she is also creating opportunities for young people, making life more affordable, and boosting vital public services like the NHS for people in our town and villages."

Listen to Laura Kyrke-Smith's statement:

Greg Smith MP. Mid Bucks.

A £26 billion tax hike hitting Mid Buckinghamshire hard. Nothing for farmers, who are still facing the damaging Family Farm Tax.

The Red Book and the Office for Budget Responsibility make it clear: the Labour Party have given up on growth. Growth down. Inflation up. Taxes up. Unemployment up.

All so they can spend more on welfare instead of backing taxpayers and the businesses that drive our economy. A deeply worrying Budget for the country.

Chesham and Amersham MP Sarah Green:

“I am pleased to hear that the Government will be absorbing the cost of SEND provision, which has been a serious issue for so many local families. It has also been a key concern for local authorities like ours in Buckinghamshire, where the existing funding formula simply isn’t working.

“I also welcome the Government taking action and scrapping the two-child benefit cap, which has unfairly penalised children for far too long”

“However, for millions of people struggling with higher bills, all this budget really offers is higher taxes. The Labour Government was elected on a promise of tackling the cost of living crisis and growing the economy - and this is the second budget where it has failed to do either. I would have liked to have seen a cut in VAT to help our high streets and struggling hospitality businesses, and further action to bring down energy bills. I am disappointed to see the regressive continuation of a freeze in the income tax threshold, which is a tax rise by the back door.” 

“The Chancellor has also failed to take the vital steps necessary to fix the £90-billion-a-year black hole left by Brexit. If she was serious about fixing economic stagnation, cutting red tape for businesses and getting our economy growing again, the Chancellor would have today announced plans to negotiate a new, bespoke Customs Union with the EU - as well as a Youth Mobility Scheme to create new opportunities for our young people.”