Westminster Report: October 2018

So, the clocks have officially gone back and winter really is in full swing. Stay warm and safe out there people!

In this month's 'Westminster Report' I review the 2018 Budget, put forward my thoughts on a so called 'People's Vote' and talk about some interesting local news from the constituency.

As ever, I hope you find it informative and if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at chris.heatonharris.mp@parliament.uk

2018 BUDGET

Yesterday, the Chancellor reported that the hard work of the British people is paying off: our careful fiscal management and solid economic recovery means that austerity is finally coming to an end!

The OBR report a significant upgrade to our public finances, underscoring the strength of the economic recovery we have seen. Now we turn our eyes to the future, which means more support for our great public services, help for household budgets now, and investment for the long-term to deliver higher living standards as our economy grows.

Austerity is coming to an end – but discipline remains. That is the clear dividing line in British politics today: a Conservative Government taking a balanced approach and getting debt down. Or Jeremy Corbyn whose version of ending austerity would be to raise taxes to the highest level in peacetime history and send debt soaring – taking us rightback to square one.

Key Budget measures

Overall investment in public services will increase in real terms over the next five years. Public spending will increase overall by 1.2 per cent in real terms each year, with precise plans to be set out at the Spending Review.

Funding the Prime Minister’s NHS commitment. We have fully-funded the cash settlement that was set out in June – which equates to £20.5 billion more in real terms by 2023-24, and an average real growth rate in the NHS’s budget of 3.4 per cent a year.

Fulfilling our promises on income tax one year early, so people keep more of what they earn. We will raise the Personal Allowance to £12,500 and Higher Rate Threshold to £50,000 one year early, saving a typical basic rate taxpayer £130 compared to 2018-19 and £1,205 compared to 2010-11. Nearly 1 million fewer people will pay the higher rate of income tax.

Supporting our councils with an additional £1 billion of funding. We will support councils with £650 million for social care, £84 million for children’s social care programmes over five years and £420 million for potholes this year.

Backing high streets by cutting business rates by a third for two years. Rates will be cut by a third for retailers with rateable value under £51,000, saving up to 90 per cent of all shops up to £8,000 each year.

Investing an additional £1.7 billion per year to benefit working families on Universal Credit. We will increase the work allowance – the amount families can earn before losing benefits – by £1,000, worth £630 per year to those households.

Providing £500 million more for Brexit preparedness. The Chancellor has already set aside £1.5 billion next year to prepare for all eventualities – today we are increasing that by £500 million to £2 billion.

A 2 per cent Digital Services Tax will ensure large digital firms pay a fair share of tax to support our public services. From 2020, large social media platforms, search engines and online marketplaces will pay 2 per cent on revenues linked to UK users.

The Royal Mint will produce a coin to mark the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. This will be available in Spring 2019.

You can read more by clicking here.

Last week answering Oral Questions on 'Exiting the European Union' from everything to borders and the Irish Backstop and everything in between.

A 'PEOPLE'S VOTE'

A number of constituents have written to me asking if I will support a so called 'People’s Vote'. For the avoidance of doubt, I want to take this opportunity to be absolutely crystal clear – I will NEVER support a ‘People’s Vote’, a ‘Fair Vote’, or however else they want to dress it up. To do so is an affront to democracy.

The UK is leaving the EU next year. The ballot paper presented voters with an unambiguous choice to remain in the EU or to leave.

As in every election, it was up to the electorate to judge the merits of the different arguments and over 17.4 million voters voted to leave. Both main political parties pledged in their manifestos at the General Election 2017 to respect the EU referendum result and these parties received over 80 per cent of the vote. The mandate is there and is up to us to see it through.

Daventry, my constituency, had over an 80% turnout and a majority of nearly 8.5 thousand voted to leave the EU. I will do everything I can to make this a reality.

MYSTERIOUS CREATURE FOUND IN THE PITSFORD RESERVOIR

A rouge crustacean has been spotted in Pitsford Water and could spread across Northamptonshire if we are not careful! Native to the Caspian Sea in Eastern Europe, this 'stowaway' shrimp has found its way across the continent and has settled down in Pitsford Reservoir. Originating in the River Danube, these shrimp are very resourceful creatures and have travelled around the world - attaching themselves to the hulls of ships and water sports equipment.

Some describe these beings as ‘killer shrimp’ but fortunately for us humans aren’t on the menu! However, it is not such good news for small fish and other water creatures such as damselflies, since the shrimp either use them as a food source or simply out-compete them. Help save our fish by practicing 'Check, Clean, Dry' – check for shrimp, clean any equipment you’ve been using in affected areas, and dry it thoroughly!

See the full article on my website here.

WINTER IS COMING

The recent cold snap has cemented the fact that winter is sadly here... This cold weather means that flu season is upon us and the NHS flu vaccination campaign has begun. So, the NHS are encouraging those who are eligible to get a jab and make sure they stay safe this winter.

This year, 22 million people are eligible for free flu vaccination including older people, pregnant women, and those with long term health conditions.

Vaccinations are available at your local GP as well as at pharmacists, the first wave of vaccinations have been delivered with more arriving in the coming weeks.

For more information please take a look on my website.

Furthermore, in response to this inclement weather the Department of Health and Social Care has allocated an additional £2,717,108 to help Northamptonshire cope with the added pressures on adult social services this winter.

This boost in funding will make sure patients can return home when they are medically ready allowing hospital beds to be freed up for patients that desperately need them.

This is all part of this Government's plan to make sure we are responsive to the added challenges winter brings.

Again, to read more, just take a look on my website.

Last week I spoke out against the Roxhill SRFI Northampton Gateway development at a public meeting with my colleague Andrea Leadsom MP, Mark Reddings of Stop Rail Central and Rod Sellers of Stop Northampton Gateway (top left). Meeting with Chief Ministers of Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and Jersey Senator, Ian Gorst (top right) planning for a range of scenarios and how they effect our Crown Dependencies. Visiting Holyhead and Portsmouth Port making sure we are prepared for Brexit and every eventuality (bottom left & right).

CHRIS' (HALLOWEEN) JOKE OF THE MONTH

What's it like to be kissed by a vampire?

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Chris Heaton-Harris MP's Westminster Report: October 2018

Chris Heaton-Harris MP's
Westminster Report:
October 2018