A tale of two budgets

Yesterday’s first budget in 14 years to be delivered by the Labour Party was certainly divisive, and this is how our two elected representatives for Montgomeryshire at Parliament and the Senedd have reacted.

Of course, they disagree, being from each side of the political divide, but one thing is for sure, the decision announced by Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, are sure to impact every single one of us, either positively or negatively.

Steve Witherden, Montgomeryshire & Glyndwr MP (Labour)

“This Budget shows that the government is firmly on the side of working people – fuel duty frozen to keep prices down at the pump, permanently lower tax rates for small businesses in retail and hospitality, and long-term investment into our public services.

“Income tax, National Insurance, and VAT will all remain the same. Working people will not be dragged into higher tax bands by stealth, they will not pay higher taxes on hard-earned wages, and they will no longer have to bear the burden of an unserious government that simply kicks the can down the road.

“Instead, the lowest paid will receive a boost with the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage both rising. Public services will get more funding, meaning lower hospital waiting times, better schools, and more reliable transport.

“Today we saw a government that understands the need to invest in the future. To invest in communities, skills, healthcare, education, infrastructure, transport, housing and more so that we can fix the foundations of our economy and deliver real improvements in living standards.

“We will not choose the path of irresponsibility – Labour will restore stability, protect working people, fix the NHS, and rebuild Britain.”

Russell George, Montgomeryshire MS, (Conservative)

“This is a very disappointing budget that will negatively impact people across Montgomeryshire.

“We already knew the new UK Labour Government plan on keeping many pensioners cold this winter, and the National Insurance rise will be an incredibly destructive jobs tax for Wales.

“The Welsh Labour Government has not stood up for farmers and rural Wales, but we have now seen their friends in UK Labour introduce a new tax on the family farm. There was speculation that the new Government would introduce this new tax, but it is hard to believe they have gone through with it.

“The new tax on the family farm does not encourage or support our farmers to produce Welsh food. In fact, Labour’s change to inheritance tax rules risks marking the end of the family farm.”