MP Jim Dobbin responds to the Budget

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Jim Dobbin MP

MP for Heywood and Middleton, Jim Dobbin, had the following to say in response to George Osborne’s annual Budget Statement: “This budget is just the same mistake repeated over and over again. George Osborne gives with one hand while taking with the other.

"For example, his change in alcohol taxation means he’s cutting 1p off the price of a pint of beer in Middleton. However, his previous increase in VAT means he’s already added 5p to it first.

"April’s increase in the personal allowance won’t make up for what hard-working families all over Greater Manchester have already lost through tax and benefit changes. And all the while, 13000 millionaires get an average tax cut of £100,000 in a few weeks.

"The Chancellor has done nothing to grow the economy with borrowing set to be £245 billion higher than planned, while families pay the price with rising unemployment, low wages and higher living costs. We needed change and got more of the same from Osborne.”

Mr Dobbin will be studying the Budget in more detail in coming days and expects to find more issues with the Chancellor’s statement.