Businesses and individuals trading and living in the Brentwood and Ongar constituency will be better off after a bold Spring Budget from new Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak, according to local Member of Parliament, Alex Burghart.
The Chancellor also set out measures to protect businesses and the economy against the effects of Coronavirus:
“I’m delighted the Chancellor has taken bold and necessary steps to counter the effects of COVID-19, promising extra resources to the NHS and other public services as well as legislation to allow Small and Medium Enterprises to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay paid for absence due to this coronavirus outbreak,” said Alex. “The decision to abolish business rates for a year for firms in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors with a rateable value below £51,000 is going to be a relief to many local enterprises.”
Constituents who have written to Alex with their views on what was needed in the Budget are going to be pleased too.
“I’ve been getting multiple campaign emails about fuel duty, alcohol duty and VAT on women’s sanitary products. I am pleased to see fuel duty frozen for the 10th year in a row. I know there will be cheers too for the tax freeze on beer, spirits, wine and cider. And, at last, the “tampon tax” is going to be scrapped.
“Farmers in Brentwood and Ongar will also be pleased to hear they are excluded from the decision to scrap fuel subsidies for off road vehicles, so will be able to continue to use ‘red diesel’ for their farming needs. And the decision to make £2.6bn available to fix potholes and resurface roads over the next five years is very welcome at this time of year when the pothole problem is at its peak.”
The typical family will see a £200 tax cut with the increase in the National Insurance threshold to £9500 from April, and Universal Credit claimants will be helped to repay advance payments in a more manageable way.
Alex added:
“More money in people’s pockets. More support for business. More and better roads and rail. This is an historic Budget which starts to deliver on the things people voted for in last year’s General Election.” ENDS
