Manuela Perteghella

I welcome aspects of this breathing space Budget. Additional investment in council housing, support for rough sleeping programmes and some positive news on business rates with action to revive our high streets are all steps in the right direction. But for many families, businesses and communities, such as those in my constituency, the Budget does not go far enough to address the pressure they face every day, including the brutal cost of living. People in Stratford-on-Avon worry about the future of their local high streets, about heating their homes this winter, and about whether their favourite shop, pub, café or restaurant—businesses that give our towns their character—will still be there next year. That is why I believe that the Budget misses opportunities in a number of important areas. Our small businesses on high streets—the independent businesses that make our towns unique and create jobs for local people—face pressure from every direction. Under this Government, rising employment costs, energy costs, business rates and regulatory burdens are all taking their toll, and empty units are blighting our streets up and down the country. We need stronger powers for councils to bring long-term vacant properties back into use, and more support for the independent businesses that give our towns their character. The business rates discount will help some, but many will be left in the cold. Hospitality is of particular importance to Stratford-on-Avon; one in nine constituents are employed in the sector. That is why I am disappointed that the Government did not go further on VAT for hospitality. A temporary reduction in VAT would have provided immediate help to businesses, while helping consumers who are also feeling the squeeze. Businesses in my constituency tell me that a VAT reduction for hospitality would have allowed them to keep the lights on after the busy Christmas period. On fuel poverty, while the payment of £100 is welcome, we know from the Resolution Foundation that 1.4 million low-income households are in higher council tax bands, and they will miss out on that untargeted payment. Will the Minister look at that cohort urgently, so that they do not fall through the cracks? While I am on the subject, council tax is a deeply unfair tax—we know it, and the Minister knows it, and it needs to change. Many households remain vulnerable to high energy costs, which is why I am concerned about the reduction in funding for the warm homes plan. Investing in warmer homes cuts bills and reduces carbon emissions; it is one of the smartest investments that any Government can make, particularly for families and older residents already struggling with the cost of living. The Budget and the Government’s wider plan place considerable emphasis on devolution. Warwickshire is a long way away from a mayor. People in my constituency want local services that are responsibly rooted in the places that they serve. Any organisational devolution must strengthen local democracy and voices, because whether we are talking about high streets, fuel poverty, housing or hospitality, the people closest to those challenges are often those best placed to solve them. For my constituents, the Budget does not go far enough to support small businesses, tackle fuel poverty and help communities thrive.