Harlow Labour leader on Chancellor’s Spring Statement: He has “left households and businesses to fend for themselves in the middle of cost-of-living crisis”
News / Thu 24th Mar 2022 at 07:09am
THE LEADER of the Harlow Labour group has responded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Spring Statement.
Councillor Chris Vince said: “On the contrary to what the Conservative MP for Harlow has said today the Chancellor has left households and businesses to fend for themselves in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, as we’re set to see the biggest drop to incomes on record this year.
“For every £6 the Chancellor has taken in tax since becoming Chancellor, he’s giving back just £1 today. Families in Harlow are now facing the highest tax burden in 70 years, with the Chancellor confirming £24 billion in tax rises this year.
“We’re facing huge increases in our energy prices, my gas bill will go up by £600 from the 1st of April, with none of the government’s measures doing anything to help. Meanwhile petrol costs are at an all-time high with the Chancellor’s meagre 5p per litre decrease doing little for people who have to travel to work by car.
“Labour’s plans to put a windful tax on oil and gas companies would have saved people up to £600, enough to cover my gas bill increase. Sadly the Conservative government has once again shown it’s not on the side of hard-working Harlow residents.
“Rishi Sunak is raising taxes again and again, only to offer crumbs just before an election. This is a cynical Chancellor who is asking struggling families to pay for the Tory election campaign. Harlow residents will see through it and see through the Conservative MP for Harlow’s support of him today”.
peter henegan
2022-03-24 08:29:15
Cllr Vince, I totally agree with what you say and indeed think that the current government is one of the poorest I can remember. However at the Harlow level the Conservatives have reduced my council tax whereas labour would have increased it. I struggle to understand why they can do this whereas Labour wanted to increase it
Chris Vince
2022-03-24 08:42:50
Hi Peter thank you for constructive comment. Over the past 12 years the government have cut funding to Harlow council by 70%. The Conservatives have frozen council tax and raided reserves for a rebate of less than £1 a week which will make no difference to residents but risk the long term finances of the council in our view.
David Vincent
2022-03-24 09:32:26
Chris Vince knows that a council budget and the opposition's alternative budget has to be approved by the section 151 officer. Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires local authorities to make arrangements for the proper administration of their financial affairs and appoint a S151 Officer, also known as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The Conservative administration's budget passed the s151 Officer inspection.
Adam
2022-03-24 09:33:09
Government greed is the problem at every level, Chris forgets just a few weeks ago he wanted to raise council significantly. But hey ho if you supported lockdown this on you, the handing out of free cash, printing money etc. this is all on you, so enjoy it you cried screamed and begged for it and it is going to get much worse.
Theman
2022-03-24 10:02:12
Our lives are not so bad if you look at the whole world. Did you know(according to the UN) that the poorest person in the UK is still in the richest 10% on the planet. It’s the reason people in the third world want to come here. It’s also the reason we are going to get a little poorer as the world “levels up”. there is a global wealth distribution revolution happening and it will be our wealth that gets redistributed as we are at the top. Of course our politicians will never talk about this directly, they will just manage the decline until we reach our new level, which I suspect still won’t be so bad. We will probably just need to focus on the basics and harsher realities of life a bit more. Maybe a shift to “we” instead of “me”
[email protected]
2022-03-24 17:17:01
Gov has cut benefits so the poorest in society are currently suffering. Probably had to cut benefits so more foreigners can live here. Thanks for that.
Leave a Comment Below:
6 Comments for Harlow Labour leader on Chancellor’s Spring Statement: He has “left households and businesses to fend for themselves in the middle of cost-of-living crisis”: