Buckinghamshire politicians react to the Budget labelled by one as a 'major let down'
Business owners and politicians across Bucks have reacted to this week’s Budget.
Kedar Gore, who runs the Penguin Fish Bar on West Street in Marlow, said he had been concerned about a potential rise in income tax and VAT, and was relieved that it did not materialise.
He spoke about increasing costs for utilities and stock, and the impact these are having on his business. Mr Gore said he is waiting to see how the new policies will affect trade in the coming months.
He said: “My worry was either an increase in VAT and an increase in income tax. They were my two main worries, because we have already seen an increase in national insurance this year and in business rates as well. Costs have definitely gone up a lot this year, we have never paid as much for most of the utilities that we are paying now.
“In the beginning of the year, we saw people weren’t spending as much. But now we can see more people coming through the door, so something is working. People seem to be spending a bit more which makes me hopeful for the future.”
Mr Gore said that while the summer was not as busy as he had expected, overall trade has remained steady. He added that he has been working to adapt his business in order to survive as customers’ habits continue to change.
He said: “[The business] is only viable if it is owner operated, it is a very underappreciated job, but business owners are really putting in the effort and the hours into keeping their business going.”
Labour MP for Wycombe Emma Reynolds said the budget would help tackle the cost of living, reduce child poverty and strengthen public services in Wycombe and across the county.
Ms Reynolds said: “We’re cutting household energy bills by £150, extending the fuel duty freeze to save families £89 next year, and lowering business rates for over 5,000 local firms in Buckinghamshire. We’re tackling child poverty head on by removing the two-child limit in Universal Credit, supporting around 2,440 children in Wycombe, while investing in young people’s futures with 12 new Youth Hubs across the Southeast.”
But Greg Smith Conservative MP for Mid Bucks, called the budget a “major let down”, calling for Ms Reeves to resign.
Sarah Green, Lib Dem MP for Chesham and Amersham, welcomed the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap. Ms Green said: “All this budget really offers is higher taxes. The Labour Government was elected on a promise of tackling the cost of living crisis and growing the economy – and this is the second budget where it has failed to do either.
“I would have liked to have seen a cut in VAT to help our high streets and struggling hospitality businesses, and further action to bring down energy bills. I am disappointed to see the regressive continuation of a freeze in the income tax threshold, which is a tax rise by the back door.”
Conservative MP for Beaconsfield, Joy Morrissey, called the budget a “betrayal of the British people”, and said the Chancellor is punishing hard working people.
Ms Morrissey said: “Freezing tax thresholds until 2031 will pull thousands more into paying higher taxes, hitting ordinary families while Labour’s spending spree continues unchecked. The Chancellor has also unleashed a spiralling benefits bill. Scrapping the two-child cap will send welfare costs soaring.
“Capping National Insurance salary sacrifice on pensions penalises those preparing responsibly for their retirement. My constituents deserve better.”
Labour MP for Aylesbury Laura Kyrke-Smith said: “It’s a budget that shows who we in this Labour Government are here for. It’s for children who are growing up in poverty. We’re lifting the cruel two-child benefit cap to get money back into families’ pockets and to transform the life chances of those kids living in poverty, including 2,700 here in Aylesbury and the villages.
“It’s a budget for people who can’t get the health care they need. We’ve made a commitment to build 250 new neighbourhood health centres, and I’ll continue to fight for one of those in Aylesbury. The Chancellor has been careful in this budget, maintaining fiscal responsibility—which is vital for economic stability and growth—while also delivering on our values: standing up for young people whose opportunities aren’t what they should be, and for people who aren’t earning enough to make ends meet.”