Millions of people will get £100 towards their energy bills funded by a tax on bumper bank profits in a Budget to provide “breathing space” for households, it’s emerged
Voice of the Mirror has its say…
For millions of families struggling to make ends meet, the real test of any Budget is simple. Will there be enough money left at the end of the month to put food on the table, heat the home and give the children a decent life?
John Healey’s first Budget offers welcome reassurance at a time when Donald Trump’s reckless war in Iran threatens to send household bills soaring.
The £100 winter fuel payments to 20 million households will provide much-needed relief, while cuts to gas standing charges will help ease the pressure of rising energy costs.
A higher minimum wage for 2.3 million workers means more money in the pockets of those who need it most. And support for shops, restaurants and other high street businesses will protect jobs and communities.
These are practical, worthwhile measures from a Labour government determined to stand up for working families.
There is also reason to welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to investing in British businesses, creating jobs and laying the foundations for future prosperity.
After years of Conservative economic mismanagement, Britain desperately needs that stability.
Of course, there is room for greater ambition. Britain’s biggest banks are enjoying enormous profits, while oil and gas giants stand to benefit from global turmoil. They can afford to contribute more.
And the case for asking the super-rich to shoulder a fairer share of the burden remains compelling.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised an economy that rewards hard work and gives ordinary families a fair chance. This Budget represents another step towards delivering that change.
There are difficult decisions ahead, and families will rightly expect further action to ease the cost of living.
But Labour deserves credit for putting money back into people’s pockets while investing in Britain’s future. For households worried about the next bill, that support matters. And after years of hardship, there is finally reason to hope that better days lie ahead.
