The Medway Labour and Co-operative Group strongly believe that the budget presented to Parliament today by Rishi Sunak does not do enough for the people of Medway.

Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group said:

“The budget comes at a time when families across Medway are seeing massive increases in their national insurance, council tax and energy bills. Nothing from today will do anything to alleviate their anxieties. We also know that there are still households across Medway that will be losing £1,000 a year as a result of the cut to the Universal Credit uplift.

“As the Shadow Chancellor said, this truly is a smoke and mirrors budget, with Johnson distracting us and Sunak simultaneously taking money from our back pockets. We deserve a budget that’s better for Medway.

“It’s shocking that less than one week before an extremely serious international climate change conference the Government’s budget fails to adequately consider the problems that humanity is globally facing.

“Incentivising unnecessary short-term flights instead of investing in the kinds of greener public transport options that would benefit Medway demonstrates just how out of touch and unsuitable this current government is to lead our country through this climate emergency.”