Leicester MP welcomes 'wealth-creating' budget announcements

-Credit: (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
-Credit: (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)


Labour’s Liz Kendall has welcomed the budget announcements made today (Wednesday), which include the government's Get Britain Working plan. Ms Kendall, who is the MP for Leicester West as well as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said the plan would "drive down poverty", while other changes announced today will improve the NHS and the education system.

She said: "We promised change, and that is what we will deliver. From investing in the NHS to increase appointments and cut waiting lists, to recruiting more teachers and rebuilding our schools, this first Labour budget in 15 years puts us on a path to fixing the foundations of the economy.

"We will drive up opportunity and drive down poverty by boosting the National Minimum Wage, strengthening the welfare safety net to help the poorest families, and investing £240 million in Getting Britain Working again.

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“That means more pounds in people’s pockets, an NHS that is there for you when you need it, more good jobs across the country, and businesses creating wealth and opportunity for all.”

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out a series of announcements today. They include a 6.7 per cent rise in the National Minimum Wage to £12.21 an hour, more than £22 billion for the NHS to cut waiting lists, £6.7 billion to recruit more teachers and rebuild and maintain schools, and £500 million for affordable home schemes.

National Insurance payments for employers will go up, along with bus fares and taxes on wines, spirits, tobacco and vaping products - although taxes on draught beer sold at pubs will be reduced.

The Department for Work and Pensions’ new Get Britain Working plan will be backed by £240 million of funding. The government said the Get Britain Working plan will develop:

  • A new jobs and careers service to help get more people into work, and get on in their work, by linking jobseekers with employers, with an increased focus on skills and careers

  • Joined-up work, health and skills plans to tackle economic inactivity and boost employment, led by mayors and local areas

  • A Youth Guarantee so that every young person is either learning or earning money

Also, a new "Fair Repayment Rate" means 1.2 million of the poorest households will benefit by an average of £420 a year, lifting tens of thousands of children and families out of poverty. There are changes to the earnings threshold for Carer’s Allowance, which is going up by £45 a week to £196, meaning more people will receive the allowance.

And the Household Support Fund will be extended by a year with almost £750 million of cash to help struggling families and pensioners in England, on top of the six months' funding of £421m already announced.