Since my last column, our beloved late Queen, Elizabeth II passed away. Like everyone across the country and in Stoke-on-Trent, I was saddened to hear this news.
For most of us, including myself, we have not known a time without Her Majesty, and it is right that we should reflect on the inestimable contribution she made during 70 years as monarch. The world today is greatly transformed from the world in 1952 and the Queen, throughout, has been a beacon of continuity and steadfastness. Whilst laying my flowers and signing the book of remembrance at the King’s Hall to thank Her Late Majesty, I was touched to see so many other Stoke-on-Trent residents have done the same. The messages were also heart-warming to read.
I know many residents in Stoke-on-Trent will be looking at the media and feeling nervous about the cost of living and energy bills as we enter the winter months. I want to reassure my constituents about the help being put in place by the Government. Taken together the support put in place in the UK to help with energy costs is more than by any other Government in the world.
The Prime Minister has announced there will be a new energy bill cap set at £2,500 a year for a typical home from 1st October. This alone will save a typical household £1,000 a year - and is in addition to the £400 energy bill discount that households are receiving from this month.
The most vulnerable households will also be getting an additional £650 cost of living payment, pensioner households will receive an additional £350, and people in receipt of disability benefits an additional £150. So the most vulnerable households in Stoke-on-Trent will have received more than £2,200 in support this year from the Government to help with these increased costs.
I am pleased to see the Government is also stepping in to help protect jobs and livelihoods by supporting the costs of energy bills for businesses, charities and public-sector organisations. There will now be a cap on commercial energy bills for 6 months over the winter, alongside the new cap already announced on household bills.
This is something I have been calling for, given the importance for the many manufacturing industries locally, especially those energy intensive businesses who are most exposed to cost rises. I will be continuing to push in Parliament for more long-term support for our local industries, especially ceramics, to help them become more efficient and reduce energy costs.
Recently, the Chancellor outlined a bold Growth Plan to get our economy firing on all cylinders again. This includes the largest tax cuts since the 1970s. With this Growth Plan, we are reversing the planned increase on National Insurance and cutting the basic rate of income tax to 19 pence from April. This will cut the taxes of millions of working people in Stoke-on-Trent, making people hundreds of pounds a year better off.
This builds on the actions we have already taken this year to help people earn more and keep more of the money they earn, including: increasing the living wage by £1,000 for the average full time worker, reducing the universal credit taper rate, worth £1,000, and taking more people out of paying tax altogether by increasing the personal allowance.
There are also similar tax cuts for local businesses and it is fantastic to see Stoke-on-Trent has been named as one of the areas set to benefit from the creation of an Investment Zone. The sites included in the zone will have reduced taxes and planning rules, incentivising development of derelict brownfield sites to create new skilled employment and homes, helping level up opportunities across our city. This will make a massive difference in helping transform our city and helping unlock our true potential.
My goal since being elected has been and continues to be levelling up of Stoke-on-Trent, helping rejuvenate our city, and supporting families and businesses to ensure people have access to better skilled and better paid opportunities.
I am at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham this week and I will be speaking with colleagues from Westminster and Stoke-on-Trent to ensure that the Government continues to be focussed on delivering for our city.
If any residents or businesses are struggling and need advice or help with energy costs my office in Longton is always here to help.
