York Central MP Rachel Maskell responds to Spring Statement

A York Central Labour MP called in response to the Prime Minister's Spring statement.

Maskell says he supports government efforts to get people to work, but fears that planned changes in universal credit and individual independent payments will be the worst for people with disabilities.

She told the press:

I recommend reading:

In a spring statement, Prime Minister Rachel Reeves reported that the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) has halved this year's economic growth forecast from 2% to 1%, while other countries have also experienced downgrades to forecasts.

(Image: PA/ House of Commons)

However, Reeves said changes to planning regulations would lead to faster growth, adding that OBR upgraded its growth forecast in future years.

The Prime Minister also announced that he would boost another £2.2 billion defence spending, citing an increasingly unstable world.

She also confirmed measures announced in the budget last fall to raise higher national insurance rates and minimum wages.

The Prime Minister also announced an extra capital expenditure of £2 billion, in addition to what was announced in her first budget.

Maskell told the press: “Labor has engulfed the economy and the nation in chaos, and has taken an important responsibility to rebuild in a volatile geopolitical landscape, especially when economic shocks emerged from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and economic shocks emerged from trade tariffs from the White House.

“Financial responsibility is important when it comes to preventing interest rates from skyrocketing, but this should not be behind millions of people.

The MP continued. “The ultra-rich people should pay through wealth taxes. A 2% tax on wealth that exceeds £10 million each year will raise £24 billion each year.

“According to current Oxfam and tax justice, 78% of people support wealth taxes, and 77% support the increase in the wealthiest taxes to improve public services.

“We have room for maneuvering from those who clearly voted for change, and we are contributing to the equalization of capital gains taxes with income tax, maintaining digital services taxes, and securing and contributing banks and businesses that are creaming billions of dollars to take them overseas.”

She added: “The Labour Party was established with moral purpose, representing many people, not just a few. We can guarantee our city. I will fight your corner, tackle the scandal of inequality, and continue doing everything possible to improve the lives of people.

“Therefore, the right to support people in their work, whether it is a universal credit health component or a personal independent payment health component, whether it is designed to support people in their work and whether they are on-the-job and in their work.

“It's completely unacceptable to hear that reductions could be even deeper than expected. The devastating impact of people losing their essential income falls on people with disabilities. I don't accept or vote for measures that put people at risk or push people deep into poverty.”