Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, has welcomed today’s Budget as another step on the road to prosperity in South Staffordshire. The Conservatives have a plan that is working, and a Budget that works for you. It shows:
- A growing economy - with Britain growing faster than any other major advanced economy.
- Record numbers of jobs – with 1.9 million more people now have the security of work.
- Rising living standards – with families an average of £900 better off in 2015 than in 2010.
- The deficit down by more than a half as a share of the economy.
- Our national debt starting to fall as a share of the economy - so we fix the roof while the sun is shining.
The Budget sets out the choice between the chaos of Labour, or the long term economic plan that is working. It shows how a future Conservative Government would secure a better future for you, your family and Britain by:
- Choosing stability – committing to run a budget surplus and keep our debt share falling.
- Choosing jobs - backing business and skills so we can achieve full employment, and supporting pubs and brewers by cutting tax on beer, cider, and whisky.
- Choosing the whole nation – investing for a truly national recovery that is felt in all parts of the country by building a Northern Powerhouse and backing economic plans in every region.
- Choosing responsibility – helping savers with the Personal Savings Allowance, abolishing savings tax altogether for 17 million people, and giving savers more freedoms with Flexible ISAs - so we build the economy on savings, not debt.
- Choosing aspiration – with a new Help to Buy ISA for first time buyers. If you save up to £12,000 towards a deposit, the government will contribute up to £3,000 – helping more people realise the dream of owning their own home.
- Choosing families – cutting income tax for 27 million people and continuing the fuel duty freeze so families can be more financially secure.
The Chancellor announced measure to help first time buyers with the Help to Buy ISA. In the West Midlands, this could help over 95,000 people to buy their first home in the next 5 years by giving them a 25 per cent bonus of the amount they have saved to help with the cost of their first home. Couples getting the full £3,000 will be able to receive a Government bonus worth 23 per cent of their deposit. The Personal Savings allowance will see basic rate taxpayers have a £1,000 Personal Savings Allowance and higher rate taxpayers a £500 Personal Savings Allowance, which could remove up to 1.43 million people from savings tax liability.
Measures to support small businesses with the Broadband Connection Voucher scheme were also announced. The scheme is open to all SMEs, charities, social enterprises and sole traders and provides up to £3,000 to support broadband connection. The schemes in Birmingham, which has issued 710 vouchers, and Coventry, which has issued 318 vouchers, are being extended for 12 months to March 2016. The scheme will be available in Wolverhampton and Stoke by 1 April.
The period over which self-employed farmers can average their profits for income tax purposes was increased from two to five years, benefitting 2,550 farmers in the West Midlands.
Gavin commented: “We have been working through our long term economic plan, and the local economy has been steadily improving. This Budget is another step on the road from austerity to prosperity - with support for savers, lower taxes for people in work and a clear plan to make sure Britain pays its way in the world.
“Five years ago, Britain was spending and borrowing too much, too many people were out of work and our economy was on its knees. That’s why there is a critical choice facing us this year: return to the chaos of the past or stick with a plan that is working and choose a more prosperous future. We must choose the future.”