Southwark Liberal Democrats: Budget barely touches sides

Cllr Rachel Bentley, on behalf of the Southwark Liberal Democrats, has today reacted to the Labour government’s first budget:  

“People in Southwark and across the country hoped for real change with this Labour budget. Unfortunately Labour have let them down. While some measures are welcome, they barely address the scale of crises facing urban areas like ours.  

The increase in affordable homes funding is a step in the right direction, but even if all of it were spent in Southwark, it would only cut our 18,000 housing waitlist by a third. More disappointing is the lack of cost-free reforms to social housing finance that could empower councils and housing associations to build the homes we need.  

The Bakerloo Line Extension—critical for jobs and housing—was ignored, while there was no commitment for London to get the integrated settlements that other regions will now benefit from 

Choosing instead to expand City Airport in already high-pollution London will only worsen our air quality, which almost constantly exceeds guideline levels in Southwark. 

It’s clear that this Labour government just isn’t up to taking on the challenges this country faces, especially in urban areas. It once again falls to Liberal Democrats to stand up for a fair deal for Southwark, our cities, and the country.” 

Cllr Victor Chamberlain, Southwark Liberal Democrat Group Leader added: 

“Even with today’s announcement, local authorities across the country will still be left with a £1 billion collective shortfall. 

“Labour promised a growth budget, but with official forecasts predict little change to growth over the next five years, and with Labour's new tax on jobs choking small businesses, it's clear that we risk yet more stagnation “ 

Sir Ed Davey echoed some of these concerns in his response to the House of Commons, saying the “black holes” in social care and SEND will not be fixed by the announcements made by the Chancellor, and warned that the employer national insurance changes will be a “tax on jobs.”