Last week saw Rachel Reeves make her Budget announcement. It was a botched opportunity to address some of the fundamentals and raise money through fair taxation to pay for public services. While the changes to energy bills should be welcomed, she failed to embrace the Liberal Democrat proposal that would have saved households more by removing the Renewable Energy Obligation. She also ignored our calls for a cut to VAT for the hospitality sector – vital for West Dorst’s economy.
Despite banks’ profits doubling over the last five years, there was no demand by the Chancellor that they pay more. Instead, the freezing of the tax-bands will mean even more people dragged into higher-rates of tax, with nearly a million extra people now paying 40p on the pound. Meanwhile, per-pupil funding is being cut and interest on tuition fees for university graduates is being frozen at nearly eight per cent (despite interest rates falling elsewhere). And pity too the farmers, who saw no move to roll-back the disastrous family farm tax.
For all the Government’s talk about ‘working people’, this was a Budget that will make working families poorer.
This week I was proud to host the launch of the newly formed UK Fruit & Vegetable Coalition. Spearheaded by one of our own West Dorset residents, the UKFVC brings together organisations representing organic, agro-ecological growers from across the UK with the aim of ensuring more fruit and vegetables are produced here and reduce our reliance on imports. I look forward to supporting them in their work to improve food security and providing healthy food to the Nation.
As I write it is UK Parliament Week – an annual event aimed at spreading the word about what Parliament is, what it does, and how you can get involved. It is especially aimed at young people and improving engagement in politics.
I’ve been having Q and A sessions with schools in Sherborne, Dorchester and Bridport, as well as Brownies and Guides groups. Visiting schools and youth groups is something I look forward to: I always get asked insightful questions and come away with loads of ideas for the real-world changes young people want to see.
Edward Morello
LibDem MP for West Dorset
