Agenda item

It was moved by: Councillor Maher, seconded by: Councillor Moncur:

That:

The cost-of-living crisis is hammering families in Sefton. But all we got from the Conservative Chancellor in his Spring Statement was a promise of a tiny bit of jam tomorrow rather than the real support that is needed now – and now we learn that workers in Sefton are facing a sharp squeeze on their wages, losing £953.37 from an average pay packet by next year.

His spring statement was the day for the Chancellor to scrap his unfair tax hike on working people and on businesses. It was the day for him to bring in a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas producers, to take up to £600 off people's energy bills. It was the day to set out a plan for British businesses.

In failing to do any of these, the Chancellor made the wrong choices for Sefton, and our Country.

We've got to get a grip on spiralling inflation and the rising cost of living crisis which is leaving people worse off and facing financial crisis.

Not only is it leaving people worse off and worried about paying the bills - it's stopping their spending going back into our local economy so our businesses and our growth is suffering. The Chancellor has left households and businesses to fend for themselves in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, as we’re set to see the biggest drop to incomes on record this year.

For every £6 the Chancellor has taken in tax since becoming Chancellor, he’s giving back just £1 today.

As such, this Council calls on the Conservative Government:

An amendment was moved by Councillor Brodie-Browne, seconded by Councillor Pugh that the Motion be amended by the addition of the following:

“4) To reduce the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, meaning a further saving of £600 to the average household”.

Following debate on the amendment Councillor Ian Maher, as Mover of the Motion indicated that he accepted the amendment as a “friendly amendment” in accordance with paragraph 72 of Chapter 4 in the Constitution and it was unanimously:

RESOLVED: That:

The cost-of-living crisis is hammering families in Sefton. But all we got from the Conservative Chancellor in his Spring Statement was a promise of a tiny bit of jam tomorrow rather than the real support that is needed now – and now we learn that workers in Sefton are facing a sharp squeeze on their wages, losing £953.37 from an average pay packet by next year.

His spring statement was the day for the Chancellor to scrap his unfair tax hike on working people and on businesses. It was the day for him to bring in a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas producers, to take up to £600 off people's energy bills. It was the day to set out a plan for British businesses.

In failing to do any of these, the Chancellor made the wrong choices for Sefton, and our Country.

We've got to get a grip on spiralling inflation and the rising cost of living crisis which is leaving people worse off and facing financial crisis.

Not only is it leaving people worse off and worried about paying the bills - it's stopping their spending going back into our local economy so our businesses and our growth is suffering. The Chancellor has left households and businesses to fend for themselves in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, as we’re set to see the biggest drop to incomes on record this year.

For every £6 the Chancellor has taken in tax since becoming Chancellor, he’s giving back just £1 today.

As such, this Council calls on the Conservative Government: