MPs and Salfordians have shared their frustrations with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s ‘mini-budget’ U-turn.
Hunts’ U-turn stated that the cap on energy price rises will only last for 6 months, until April, rather than two years, as suggested by previous Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng. Hunt also confirmed that there will be no increase in major benefits, such as Universal Credit, until April.
In response to the announcement, Salford and Eccles MP, Rebecca Long-Bailey said: “The Chancellor’s announcement of less support with energy bills was a kick in the teeth for people struggling across Salford to make ends meet and the threat of more public service cuts to come is simply obscene when Government is still carrying on with its plans to lift the cap on bankers bonuses.
“Salford council alone is already facing a shortfall of £16m in its next budget due to soaring energy costs, this is on top of its revenue support grant from central government being cut by over half from £450m to £203m since 2010 and shedding more than half its staff. There is simply nothing left to cut but services now!”
Hunt proposed that the planned 1p cut in income tax will be deferred “indefinitely”. The Treasury says this will save £6bn a year. As well as this, corporation tax will rise to 25p from 19p in April.
Local members of the public in Media City had their say on the budget changes. One woman said: “It is ridiculous, there is no need for the energy prices to be that high. It is unnecessary and unfair.
I would like to see how high their energy prices are and how much they are paying.
“It is all unethical, energy prices, unethical, gas and diesel prices, unethical.”
Another man shared the same sentiment. He commented: “It does not matter who is in power or what they say. They have their own agendas and their own pockets.
“They care about corporations and money and not about normal people like us.”
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