Victoria Collins MP responds to the Budget

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Victoria Collins, has said the extra funding for the NHS announced in the Budget must deliver improved services for local people including through extra GP appointments and reducing cancer waiting times. 

Victoria Collins MP is also calling for cross-party talks to fix social care, better funding for local government and more support for small businesses. 

Fixing social care will be crucial to take pressure off local health services. Victoria also expressed concerns about the strain increases will put on small businesses locally, and is continuing to call for reform of the business rates system. 

Responding to the Budget, Liberal Democrat MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted Victoria Collins, said:

“An issue that I know remains a top priority for my constituents in Harpenden and Berkhamsted is accessing the healthcare they need. However, we know that to properly tackle the NHS crisis, we must fix the social care crisis and better support carers that make huge contributions both locally and nationally.

“Whilst I welcome the Chancellor’s announcement on increasing NHS investment, I’m worried that the Budget ignores the elephant in the room in not properly addressing the social care crisis. I’m glad that they have listened to Liberal Democrat calls to increase the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit, but we urgently need cross-party talks on social care and stronger action to fix this system.

“We also need to see a lot more support for our local government and local businesses that are the backbone of highstreets and local economies like that of Harpenden and Berkhamsted. The government must go further and faster to support local government, particularly on reviewing funding for SEND services which I’ve long campaigned on in Hertfordshire. I, of course, welcome the extra £1 billion for SEND announced today, but we need long-term reform of SEND services with soaring wait times for families in areas like my constituency.

“Furthermore, I’m very concerned by the strain tax increases will put on small businesses through the increase in Employers’ National Insurance. The government should instead raise money by reversing tax cuts for big banks, or through social media giants paying their fair share, not by penalising businesses at the heart of our high streets.

“Another side of tackling this issue is reforming the business rates system to support local business growth and investment. The Chancellor’s announcements today don’t address the fundamental need to reform this system for the good of businesses like those in my constituency, and I’ll keep pushing them to do this.

“In the wake of this Budget, I’ll keep fighting on the issues that I know are priorities for my constituents. I’ll hold the government’s feet to the fire on funding local NHS services, addressing the social care crisis, supporting local businesses and reforming SEND services.”