Hinckley and Bosworth Lib Dems condemn “chaotic and incompetent” budget
Hinckley and Bosworth Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservative Government of "incompetence and chaos" after the Autumn Statement saw tax hikes and cuts to services for people in Hinckley and Bosworth. The Chancellor's measures come in the wake of economic turmoil following the "mini-budget" which saw mortgage rates spike to record levels.
For months the party have been calling for a tougher windfall tax on oil and gas giants to help pay for help with energy bills and support for the vulnerable. They are also calling for a Mortgage Protection Fund to help people in Hinckley and Bosworth and across the country struggling to pay their mortgage, which they would fund through reversing tax cuts for the big banks.
Commenting on the Government's Autumn Statement, Hinckley and Bosworth Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman Cllr Michael Mullaney said:
"This is the cost of chaos budget. Everyone is being forced to pay the price for this Conservative government's incompetence.
"People in Hinckley and Bosworth are being asked to pick up the bill for the Conservative party crashing the economy, while oil and gas giants are left off the hook. People here are being forced to suffer unfair tax hikes and cuts to our public services for years to come.
"We need a fair deal, including support for people unable to afford skyrocketing mortgage bills and rents, and protecting funding for local health services. This could be paid for by reversing tax cuts for banks and a proper windfall tax, instead of imposing years of stealth taxes on ordinary families. This is an out of touch Government which has no plan to help people in Hinckley and Bosworth with their bills."
Liberal Democrats are calling for
- Put a proper windfall tax on the profits of the fossil fuel giants.
- Introduce a new Mortgage Protection Fund to protect families from losing their homes because of the Conservative Property Penalty, paid for by reversing the Conservatives' unfair and unnecessary tax cuts for the big banks.
A Hinckley County Councillor has renewed calls for a safe road crossing to be installed near a Hinckley School.
Lib Dem Councillor for Hinckley De Montfort Michael Mullaney has campaigned with local parents, residents and fellow Hinckley Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray to get a safe crossing near St Peter’s School on London Road, Hinckley.
This follows news that Leicestershire County Council have again decided against putting a crossing there.
In a written submission to the County Council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee Michael Mullaney set out why a crossing was still needed there
“A huge number of residents in the area I represent on the County Council and the area my two fellow Hinckley County Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray represent support a safe crossing at St Peter’s School on London Road in Hinckley. 8,850 residents signed a petition supporting the campaign.
“There are safety concerns, there have been a number of near misses involving pupils and parents going to the school. Although not recorded it is believed that there was an accident leading to a fatality some years ago along this part of London Road when a pedestrian was knocked over.
“Whilst I appreciate the extra road safety measures that are proposed for London Road near St Peter’s School I am extremely disappointed that the request for a safe road crossing has not been supported in the report.
“There is widespread support for it and Cllrs Bill, Bray and myself identified funding for putting a crossing in at the site through the Members Highway Fund, a fund which was developed with the apparent intention of supporting Highways causes that were important in Councillor’s local areas.
“Whilst it’s welcome that a crossing person has been recruited for St Peter’s School there is always the risk that the person may step down from the job and it may be difficult to find a new person (as it took some years to recruit a crossing person there, with no school crossing patrol between 2017 and 2022 despite attempts to recruit to the post). A safe pedestrian crossing at the site however would be a permanent safety measure that would benefit pupils and parents and residents more generally crossing the road there.
“Whilst I welcome the fact there will be some safety improvements at the site I and many residents believe there still needs to be a safe permanent crossing at St Peter’s School. I therefore urge the County Council to rethink and agree to installing a crossing near St Peter’s School”
