Angela Rayner

This is a Budget with immediate action today and clear direction for the future. If we want to build a Britain where all people can live a good life and live it well, where everyone has control to shape their own lives for themselves, and where no one’s future is limited by where they are from, because the only ceiling is their own ambition, what we need is good growth in every postcode. However, we also know that people need a bit of breathing space right now, which is why we have announced targeted support for households this winter, and action to bring down the cost of essentials. We are a Government with a clear theory of growth: retake control, and devolve power to places. We are fundamentally shifting where and how decisions are made by transferring powers, resources and functions to mayors, strategic authorities and local authorities across England, and we are working with the devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. That shift means that local leaders with skin in the game can target spending towards the biggest issues in their communities: new housing projects, infrastructure that cuts workers’ commutes, and investment in our town centres. The fiscal devolution road map published alongside the Budget sets out a new funding model so that local leaders can rise to this challenge: by the end of the decade, local and regional government will retain 100% of the business rates income. It sets out plans for mayoral strategic authorities to receive a share of local income tax revenues from 2028, and details how the overnight visitor levy will work, as well as our plans to explore further fiscal devolution.