Dear Friend,

I know times are tough. Families are struggling with bills and worrying about mortgage payments. For me, yesterday’s budget was about doing all Government can to ease that burden.

So, from next year the taxman will take less from the hard earned pay packet of 87,000 local people here in Sutton. This is on top of the tax cut announced last year and means that those on low and middle incomes will pay £700 less in income tax. For me, this is a victory and something I have campaigned on hard for years.

I also welcome the decision to scrap the planned rise in fuel duty, cancel the automatic increase in beer tax imposed by the last Labour Government and provide new financial support for childcare costs. This means motorists will now pay 13p less per litre for fuel than they would have under the previous Government’s plans.

At the same time the Government is investing in new housing, boosting infrastructure investment and introducing a new employment allowance to help small and micro businesses expand their workforce – all steps that will help to get our economy moving again.

The financial crisis of 2008 delivered an unprecedented blow to our economy. Restoring our country’s finances will take time but the deficit has been cut by a third, over 1.25m private sector jobs have been created and interest rates are near record lows, benefiting businesses and families.

I know that many people are struggling and the road to economic recovery is longer than we hoped, but I believe these changes are another step towards creating a stronger economy and a fairer society – so that every person in Britain is able to get on in life.

Let me know what you think about the budget by replying to me brake@tombrake.co.uk

Best Wishes,

Tom

Tom Brake MP
Liberal Democrat for Carshalton and Wallington