This week in Parliament Dr Neil Hudson MP challenged the Government over its harmful economic policies, calling for them to be reversed for the sake of his Epping Forest constituents and the nation, during a Ministerial Statement in the House of Commons.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury attempted to outline the Government’s belief in economic growth and their plans to achieve it, but Dr Hudson challenged the Chief Secretary and the Government that the policies they have chosen to implement are having the opposite effect.
He outlined how some Epping Forest businesses and employers are having to freeze recruitment or cut jobs as the cost of hiring and retaining staff becomes more expensive due to the Government’s decision to raise employer National Insurance contributions.
Nationally, he outlined how the Government’s choice to reduce Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief will put the UK’s dedicated farmers and family businesses at risk despite the Government’s arguments to the contrary. He also raised the risk its punitive policies are putting on children’s futures, with its introduction of VAT on independent schools putting extra pressure on the state sector from pupils moving schools, and some independent schools being forced to close altogether.
Dr Hudson has been in consistent dialogue with constituency businesses and residents to discuss the impact of the Government’s economic policies and has long sounded the alarm on the risks of Labour’s economic policy to his Epping Forest constituents and urged the Government to change course. He outlined these risks in the Chamber imminently after the Autumn Budget was delivered last year, as well as the threat to older people through its axing of Winter Fuel Payments to around 10 million people nationally.
During the Ministerial Statement, Dr Hudson said:
“ It’s been very interesting listening to the statement on growing the UK economy when everything the Labour Government has done so far is having the exact reverse effect. In Epping Forest, businesses and vital services are talking about job losses, a freeze in recruitment due to the jobs tax.
“Across the country, family farms and family businesses are worried about their futures with the Government’s heartless inheritance tax policies. Children are having to move schools and some independent schools are having to close due to the punitive school fees policy. When will this Government admit that they’ve got things wrong and for the sake of opportunity and growth, reverse their ill-judged policies?”
Following his contribution in Parliament, Dr Hudson commented:
“The Government’s desire to wax lyrical about economic growth rings incredibly hollow to me and my Epping Forest constituents. A negative mix of rises in National Insurance contributions on employers, a Family Farms and Business Tax and VAT on independent schools have left many folk worried about their very futures, opportunities and prosperity.”
“I will do everything I can to get this Government to change course from the negative spiral that they have set in train for our country.”
