The Chancellor recently delivered the Autumn budget. This is a budget focused on the priorities of people across the country- cutting the cost of living, cutting NHS waiting lists, and cutting the cost of debt to strengthen the foundations of our economy.
This Labour government recognises the challenges people across our country face. Children and young people want access to quality education to set them up for the future, skilled and well-paid job opportunities, and an affordable cost of living. The government is acting on these issues- reducing child poverty, tackling youth unemployment, and raising wages.
Crucially, the government is removing the two-child benefit cap. This policy has been one of the largest drivers of child poverty, and its removal will help over 5,000 children here in Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
This comes alongside other key measures already implemented to tackle child poverty and the government’s newly announced Child Poverty Strategy. By rolling out free breakfast clubs, expanding free school meals to half a million more children, doubling the early years childcare offer to 30 hours, helping parents save on baby formula, and much more, this government will lift 550,00 children out of poverty by 2030.
Tackling child poverty is not only a moral mission, but an investment in our country’s future. This government will make sure no young people are left behind by introducing the Youth Guarantee- ensuring all young people are in education, training, or employment- and making apprenticeships for under 25s free in small and medium sized businesses.
This comes alongside important cost of living measures, including £900 and £1,500 annual boosts to the National Living and Minimum Wages, a freeze on prescription charges, a £150 cut to energy bills, and a £400 saving on annual Luton-to-London season tickets under the first rail fare freeze in 30 years.
People of all ages in Luton South and South Bedfordshire will benefit from these measures, and state pension recipients will see a 4.8% rise under the triple lock. The government has also assured that those with the state pension as their sole income will not pay tax.
The government has taken fair and necessary decisions to put our economy and public services back in the hands of working people, and I welcome the positive impact this will bring to Luton South and South Bedfordshire.