Political opinion with Beccy Cooper MP: Thoughts on the Budget
Now that the dust is settling on last week’s much-debated Budget, here are my thoughts on it, having listened to the Chancellor’s speech in the Chamber and reviewed the measures within it.
Naturally, I’m viewing the budget through the lens of both public health and as your constituency MP for Worthing West. And so, these are the changes that stand out most for me.
First and foremost, I’m incredibly proud that we have taken direct action on poverty by removing the two-child cap. Nationally, this change will lift around 450,000 children out of poverty – including 1,350 children here in Worthing West. It represents the biggest reduction in child poverty within a single parliament since records began– not only relieving pressure on so many struggling families but on our public and voluntary sectors too, such as our fantastic Worthing Food Foundation who have helped so many of our residents through the cost-of-living crisis.
We have also accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations in full, which means wages will rise for many working people. The minimum wage for 18- to 25-year-olds will increase to £10.85, and the living wage will rise to £12.71. With the cost of living still weighing heavily on many households, I know how vital this uplift will be.
Energy bills also remain a real concern for many residents. To help ease some of this pressure, we are removing the redundant eco-levy. This will save the average household around £150 a year, with up to £300 in savings for lower-income families who are struggling the most.
I was also especially pleased to see significant commitments to public health. We have secured major reforms to gambling taxation—an area that Alex Ballinger MP and I have campaigned on for some time. Remote gaming duty will rise from 21% to 40%, and remote betting duty will increase from 15% to 25%. Gambling harms are a serious public health issue, and these are the first steps in what I hope will be a wider set of protections. The sugar levy is also being expanded, another area in which I have long campaigned.
If we look overall, this is not an austerity budget. We are maintaining significant capital investment, with £120 billion being committed to public services. This includes funding libraries in every primary school, improving secondary school libraries, and investing £18 million in new and upgraded playgrounds. While record investment in our NHS will continue to bring down waiting lists, increase GP appointments, and strengthen neighbourhood-based care to keep people well and out of hospital.
I’m also delighted that apprenticeships for small and medium-sized businesses will now be fully funded, creating opportunities for young people who want to stay and work in our area. Lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and small businesses will benefit around 4,500 businesses across Worthing and Arun—fantastic news for our local economy.
Overall, I believe this is a fair and positive budget for Worthing West and ’ll continue working hard to make sure these measures—and future ones—deliver for all our residents. If you’d like to share your own thoughts, please email me on [email protected]