CHANCELLOR DELIVERS ‘A BOTCHED BUDGET’ WHICH FAILS TO DELIVER FOR SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

Responding to the Autumn Budget, Paul Hartshorn, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for South Leicestershire, criticised the Government for failing to deliver the investment and change needed for Leicestershire.

The Party branded it a “botched Budget” that failed to deliver “the real change people in Leicestershire were promised”, instead “delivering a tax bombshell for millions” by extending the freeze in tax thresholds.

The Chancellor’s Budget offered nothing to fix the growing crisis in social care, which continues to hurt so many elderly and vulnerable people and puts devastating strain on the NHS. With council finances already under severe pressure, now worsened by the damaging jobs tax, the crisis in social care is expected to deepen further after the Budget.

The Government also failed to scrap the Family Farm Tax. Paul Hartshorn and the Liberal Democrats reaffirmed their commitment to continue campaigning for a fair deal for rural communities and farmers, including proper investment in tackling rural crime.

COST OF LIVING

Paul Hartshorn expressed disappointment that the Chancellor did not go further in delivering meaningful support for families desperately needing help with the cost of living.

He pointed out that people’s living standards are being hit by the Government's tax rises, as highlighted by the Office for Budget Responsibility. And with the Chancellor’s plan to reduce energy bills not coming into force until April 2026, Paul Hartshorn said people need immediate relief urging the Government to be far bolder by adopting the Liberal Democrats' plan to halve energy bills by 2035.

Paul Hartshorn, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for South Leicestershire, said:

“It’s been a couple of days since the Budget, and it’s clear this Government has failed to rise to the moment. I do want to give credit where it’s due, removing the two-child benefit cap is a major step forward, something Liberal Democrat MPs have campaigned on for years, and it will lift around 350,000 children out of poverty. But beyond that, this Budget offers little hope.

“There was nothing about rebuilding our trading relationship with the European Union, our nearest, largest and most important trading partner. Rebuilding that relationship would add billions to our economy and reduce the need for painful tax rises or cuts to services. It’s an absolute no-brainer, yet the Government continues to ignore it.

“On top of that, the decision to freeze income tax bands is a stealth tax on millions, pushing hardworking people into paying more despite Labour promising they wouldn’t raise income tax. People across Leicestershire are being squeezed from every direction.

“When you look at the bigger picture, this is a low-growth, high-tax Budget with no vision and no hope. It fails to fix social care, fails rural communities, fails families struggling with the cost of living, and fails to set out any plan for long-term prosperity. Overall, I’d give it 2 out of 10.”