It’s with no doubt, the UK Labour Government’s Autumn Budget will have a devastating impact on the people of Wales. Labour’s pledge to not raise tax on working people was disingenuous at best.
Labour’s shameful Budget is built on the back of keeping pensioners cold this winter, hiking national insurance contributions for working people, and destroying the family farm as we know it.
In the Senedd today, the Welsh Conservatives are bringing forward a Senedd motion on Labour’s Budget, and are calling on the Welsh Government to take urgent action to support our pensioners, protect our farmers, and use any extra funding to reduce NHS waiting lists.
Commenting ahead of the debate, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies MS, said:
“Labour’s Budget of broken promises will have a devastating impact in Wales.
“This Budget is built on the back of keeping pensioners cold this winter, and the National Insurance rise will be an incredibly destructive jobs tax for Wales’ economy which is already struggling after decades of Labour rule.
“And just like their assault on rural communities in Wales, now Labour’s change to inheritance tax rules risks marking the end of the family farm.
“If the Labour Party wants to join us in standing up for Wales, they should join us in condemning this Budget.”
Also commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government, Peter Fox MS, said:
“Labour’s Budget can be characterised by endless broken promises on tax, on spending and on borrowing. It was a betrayal of farmers, pensioners, businesses and workers.
“Additional consequential funding to the Labour Welsh Government should, however, be focussed on reducing NHS waiting times which remain the longest in the UK after seven consecutive record-breaking months.”
The motion which will be debated today reads:
To propose that the Senedd:
- Believes that the UK Government’s Autumn Budget breaks Labour’s manifesto commitment to not raise taxes on working people.
- Regrets that many pensioners will have to choose between eating and heating as a result of the withdrawal of winter fuel payments.
- Recognises that the increase in employer national insurance contributions will make it harder to employ and retain staff for businesses.
- Expresses its disappointment that the UK Government’s budget has failed to deliver either the electrification of the North Wales Main Line or Barnett consequentials from the HS2 project for Wales.
- Calls on the Welsh Government to:
- use funding arising from the Autumn Budget to support reducing NHS waiting lists and strengthen social care services across Wales;
- deliver support to Welsh pensioners through the winter months via the establishment of a Welsh Winter Fuel Allowance;
- increase investment in the Welsh education system to improve learner outcomes in our schools;
- protect our farmers by supporting the case to maintain agricultural property relief and business property relief for inheritance tax purposes; and
- stand up for Wales by seeking a new, needs based funding formula to replace the Barnett formula.
