Lincoln MP insists Rachel Reeves’ budget will be good for the city’s residents
Lincoln's Labour MP Hamish Falconer has insisted the Chancellor's recent budget will "fix the foundations" of the economy and bring positive change for people in his constituency.
Mr Falconer, who was elected to Parliament following the General Election in July, praised Rachel Reeves' budget outlined on Wednesday (October 30), pointing to the rise in national living wage and additional NHS funding signal as promising news for Lincoln residents.
Mrs Reeves’ statement also included a £40 billion tax increase aimed at restoring the economy and public finances, as she claimed the party inherited a "black hole" left by the former Conservative government.
The national living wage will increase by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour for workers over 21, equivalent to an additional £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker.
"This is a budget that fixes the foundations and delivers change. For people in Lincoln, there is positive news: no tax increases for working people, an increase in the national living wage, money for the NHS, no increase in fuel duty, and money for new homes," said Hamish.
With no increase in National Insurance or Income Tax, the Labour MP said working people won't face higher taxes in their payslips.
He added: “Everyone in Lincoln deserves to be paid a fair wage, and the increase in the living wage will put more money in the pockets of those who need it most. It’s an important step towards making work pay and reducing financial stress on families.”
Mr Falconer said that public service funding had reached historic lows - and he argued that the budget will boost to day-to-day spending on essential services in real terms from 2023-24 to 2029-30. This includes an extra £25.6 billion over two years for the NHS to cut waiting times, with 40,000 additional weekly elective appointments and expanded capacity for over 30,000 additional procedures.
The Core Schools Budget will also see a £2.3 billion increase next year to support the recruitment of 65,000 teachers.
“This funding will benefit Lincoln’s hospitals and schools. Access to quality healthcare is fundamental, and this investment in the NHS will bring much-needed resources to Lincoln, benefiting patients and healthcare workers alike," said Hamish.
In her statement, Rachel Reeves also addressed the extensive number of potholes on the country’s roads, describing it as a sign of “our failure to invest as a nation.” She pledged an additional £500 million for road maintenance over the next year to repair an extra one million potholes annually—another measure Mr Falconer welcomed.
He continued: “Lincoln’s roads have been neglected for too long, and drivers are all too familiar with the cost and frustration of potholes. This funding will help address these issues, making our roads safer and more reliable.”
Conservative leaders at Lincolnshire County Council were not as pleased with the budget, with Councillor Colin Davie, portfolio holder for economic development, environment, and planning, describing it as “a disaster for the UK economy”.
He said: "At a time when we should be prioritising business innovation and nurturing talent for future prosperity, we have a budget with £40bn tax rise. We're now locked into a high tax, low growth economy for years to come.
"Small businesses are the backbone of Lincolnshire's economy. Business wage bills will rise considerable as a result of the rise in employer contributions. The minimum wage increase means many small businesses will really struggle."
