North East sets hopes for the upcoming autumn statement
Rumours have been swirling around Westminster about potential tax cuts and a crackdown on benefits amid a destitution crisis in the region.
In the region, there has been an unprecedented level of child poverty recorded.
More than 50 organisations have partnered with the North East Child Poverty Commission and signed a letter to the chancellor calling on him to strengthen the safety net for families.
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, expressed his hope that there would be more clarity on upcoming ‘Investment Zones’.
He said: “As ever, I’m hoping to see some strong pro-business announcements from the Chancellor to help companies of all sizes grow and create good-quality, well-paid jobs for our local people.
“We’ve seen further support for innovative projects such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the past few days, and boosting these cleaner, safer and healthier industries of the future – in whatever shape that may take – would be fantastic for our region.
“I’m looking forward to the formal confirmation that the lifetime of Freeports will be extended from five to ten years, which will help bring even more major businesses to our Freeport zones, across all of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.
“Finally, confirmation of the details surrounding Investment Zones would be great, helping to give certainty to how these can turbocharge our region and, in particular, the transformative work being kick-started by our Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Development Corporations.”
Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North, wants to see measures taken to tackle child poverty in the region.
He highlighted that 34% of the children in his constituency lived below the poverty line.
He said: “We need to see policies that support working people and hard-pressed families, all of whom are suffering from a cost-of-living crisis not of their making.
“The Chancellor should commit to increasing Universal Credit in line with inflation as the Labour Party has done, benefitting over 10,000 households in Stockton North alone.
“We need to see measures that tackles the scourge of child poverty. Almost 34 per cent of children in my constituency live below the poverty line.
“That’s thousands of children going to bed hungry and missing opportunities available to better off peers.
“Rather than focus on an inheritance tax cut that will benefit the wealthiest four per cent the Chancellor has the perfect opportunity in his Autumn Statement to make child poverty a thing of the past.
“Job creation should also be a focus of the Autumn Statement. Teesside is fit to burst with potential when it comes to emerging energy-intensive industries and carbon capture, utilisation and storage and the jobs and opportunities these could create for our area are huge – but they need strong support from the Government, and sadly they’re currently getting the opposite.
“I’d like to see the Chancellor announce a package of support to get our Net Zero cluster underway, and a strategy that supports businesses as they transition to net zero.
“It would be remiss of me not mention a new hospital for Stockton on Tees, something I’ve been campaigning for ever since the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition cancelled the last plans.
“Our area lags behind others on health inequalities and we need the best facilities to both support our people to live healthier lives and the dedicated healthcare professionals who work so hard to improve the health of our communities.”
Clair McGregor, founder of the Angel Trust food bank in Bishop Auckland, emphasised the scale of the problem facing people in the North East.
She said: “We have seen a huge influx of people with lack of housing.
“There is a real lack of housing support. We are seeing a rise in homelessness.
“We have no homeless shelters around here. The cost of living is still too high for people.
“The combination of those factors means that a lot of people are struggling and so is mental health.
“Anything to ease the struggle would be good.”
Ahead of the announcement Labour have made their position clear that they believe the Conservatives have presided over a period of decline.
Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, said: “Thirteen years of economic failure that has left working people worse off, with higher taxes, higher mortgage payments and prices still rising in the shops.
“The economy is not working for working people.”
Richard Holden, Conservative MP for North West Durham, said: “Tomorrow’s Autumn Statement will unveil Rishi Sunak’s plans for a brighter economic future for the country.
“While the Labour Party continually talks Britain down, Rishi Sunak has been getting on with the job and delivering for the British people. Inflation has halved, and we now have one of the world’s fastest growing economies, meaning better jobs and more money in people’s pockets.
“Labour’s only plan for the future is billions of pounds of spending that would drive inflation right back up again.
“Only Conservatives have the strong track record the economy – and this budget will reward hardworking people across the North East and the whole country.”
Lee Watson, partner at accountancy firm Clive Owen LLP, which has offices in Darlington, Durham, Middlesbrough, and York, said: “Despite the revolving door in the cabinet, Jeremy Hunt remains in his position as chancellor, which shows that the prime minister has faith in him.
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“In September, the Chancellor suggested he would not be in a position to cut taxes or increase public spending with the country on the cusp of a recessions. I’d suggest that there will be further announcements in respect of R&D, including the abolishment of the SME R&D scheme.
“In addition, there was a rumour that inheritance tax would be abolished but that seems unlikely, however, do not rule out some reforms being proposed.
“Finally, given that there will be a general election in the next financial year, the chancellor may suggest future tax cuts to attempt to win votes including potential tax breaks to get those that have retired early, back into the workplace.”
References
- ^ here (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
- ^ Craig Harker’s George Pub and Grill in Stockton up for sale (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
- ^ Bells Fish and Chips in Durham is finalist for 2024 awards (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
- ^ Woman jailed for double stabbing in Spennymoor pub on New Year’s Day (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)