The recent emergency budget by the Chancellor has exposed a government in disarray.
Despite promises of fiscal restraint and careful planning, we are now witnessing a rapid slide into chaos. The numbers don’t lie: inflation has surged from 2.6% to 3.2%, unemployment is creeping upward, and the Office for Budget Responsibility has halved growth forecasts for 2025. With Labour’s proposed Employment Rights Bill set to inflict further damage, it is clear that something must change.
Here in North West Essex, I see the direct impact of these policies on our communities every day. Rural areas and entrepreneurial hubs like ours are bearing the brunt of heavy-handed decisions. Taxing farmers and small businesses is stifling growth at a time when they need support the most, whilst the recent rise in National Insurance—a policy that was touted as a necessary measure for safeguarding public finances—has instead become a catastrophe, affecting local charities, hospices, schools, and GP services across the constituency.
The previous Government had a costed long-term plan for welfare reform. However, those plans were scrapped and replaced by last-minute, rushed cuts that will hit the most vulnerable hardest. During the election, the Chancellor made a series of promises: no increase in borrowing, no change to fiscal rules, no additional taxes on farmers or on National Insurance, and only one fiscal event per year. Yet, every single one of these promises has been broken. Fiscal policies are now dictated by an arbitrary, ever-changing target rather than by any long-term, principled strategy. This shift is undermining our economy and the potential for business expansion—a critical element for job creation and funding for our public services.
I have spoken with local business owners and residents in our constituency, and across the UK, who are struggling under these burdens. They are facing rising mortgage rates, tighter credit conditions, and an ever-increasing cost of living. The government’s policy missteps are not just abstract national statistics; they are the daily reality for residents right here in North West Essex.
The Chancellor boasted in her last budget about “smashing glass ceilings”—now it feels as though the roof is falling over all our heads. As your MP and Leader of the Opposition, I am determined to hold this government accountable for its reckless choices. I will fight to reverse these damaging policies and work tirelessly to secure a more stable and prosperous future for our communities.
