25th April 2009

Local people will pay the price for Brown’s failed policies.

 

Local Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, has expressed concern at plans to increase taxes on families and firms in Sittingbourne & Sheppey.

 

In this week’s Budget the Government announced a number of measures that will hit local people.

 

National Insurance will be increased for workers and for firms. This jobs tax will discourage businesses from hiring staff, cut people’s pay packets, and mean anyone earning £20,000 a year or more will be worse off.

 

National debt will double to £1.4 trillion – this is equivalent to £22,500 of debt for every man, woman and child. Taxes are to rise by £1,000 for every family over the next two years.

 

Fuel duty is up 2 pence per litre, and will continue to rise by more than inflation for the next four years, increasing the cost of travelling to work, taking children to school and going shopping.

 

Alcohol duty, which was hiked up in December, will rise again as part of the Government’s plans to increase the cost of beer, cider, spirits and wine by more than inflation every year. This punishes responsible drinkers and is putting small local pubs out of business.

 

Business rates are rising by £1 billion in the middle of a recession. Business rates are the biggest cost for firms after rent and staff costs. Bills have soared for local firms since the beginning of April, and further large rises are expected next year too.

 

Mr Henderson said:

 

‘These aren’t taxes for the few, they are tax increase for the many. Families and local firms across Sittingbourne & Sheppey are going to pay the price for Gordon Brown’s failings.

 

‘Labour MPs have been briefed to push the line that this was Budget for jobs. That couldn’t be further from the truth. At a time when people are losing their jobs or facing pay freezes, hard-working families now face smaller pay packets and a higher cost of living thanks to Labour.’

 

‘I just wish that Gordon Brown would pluck up the courage to call a General Election. Then we would have the chance to elect a Conservative Government to repair our broken public finances and help lead the country out of recession.’