Budget is a Disaster for Hard Working People Across Southport and the Northern Parishes

MIKE Prendergast, Spokesperson for Southport Conservatives has hit out at Labour's Budget, saying it is an assault on working people to pay for more welfare spending.

Commenting after the Budget, Mike Prendergast said:- "The Tax burden on working people is now at a record high and this Budget takes another £26 billion from working people, on top of the £40 billion taken in the last Budget. Headline measures include the freeze on Income Tax thresholds being extended for another 3 years, capping pension Tax relief on salary sacrifice schemes, new property Taxes, reductions in the cash ISA Limit, Taxes on electric vehicles and a Tourist Tax. City At the same time, the Labour Government is increasing spending on welfare, scrapping the 2 child cap at a cost of £3 billion. Labour and Rachel Reeves have made it clear, with this chaotic Budget, that they are prioritising welfare over work. Another £26 billion in Tax rises to pay for more Government spending, to pay for other people's life choices and all the while the economy is tanking. The last 2 Budgets have raised Taxes by £66 billion, that is just not sustainable. Across Southport and the Northern Parishes, our high streets are still suffering from the effects of National Insurance increases in April and increased staffing costs. There are now fewer jobs for local people and fewer opportunities because of the jobs Tax. In our rural villages in:- Banks, Hesketh Bank, Mere Brow, Tarleton and Rufford the Family Farm Tax will kick in from April, a continued attack on our local farmers who contribute enormously to our local economy. Now, Southport, a town with a huge tourism, Hospitality and leisure sector, is going to have a Tourist Tax imposed. This is despite Labour saying they wouldn't do this just over a month ago."

The Tourist Tax will likely cost the public £518 million and is another Tax on B&B's and hotels, who already have seen their National Insurance and Business Rates hiked by Labour.

Mike commented further by saying:- "For those people who work, who save, make difficult choices to make ends meet, the Budget was a kick in the teeth. This Government have made it clear they don't care about you and simply view you as a means to raise money. Paying out more in welfare is clearly a bigger priority for Labour than growing the economy and supporting those who work. Local people and businesses deserve better. It's Conservatives who are offering a real alternative, 1 that backs aspiration, rewards work and gives our town and rural villages the chance to thrive. We would cut Stamp Duty, helping 1st time buyers get on the ladder and supporting a stronger local housing market. We would scrap business rates for retail and Hospitality, giving a vital lifeline to Southport's high street businesses, from:- family run shops to pubs, cafés and restaurants, instead of Taxng them to the brink. We would scrap the Family Farm Tax, helping farmers across the Northern Parishes to plan for the future and grow the incredible local produce we all need."

With inflation up, unemployment up and growth down, and endless u turns from the Labour Government bringing further uncertainty, it seems that the attacks from Labour on hard working people are going to continue.

New national standards on Tax licensing proposed to protect passengers

MINISTERS will change the law to strengthen safety and protections for passengers in Tax and Tax vehicles.  The proposed new standards come after Baroness Casey's audit into Group based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, which was published in June of this year. Since then the Government has acted fast to keep passengers and young people safe.
 
Under new rules, debated in Parliament on:- Tuesday, 25 November 2025, the Transport Secretary would have the power to introduce national minimum standards for Tax and PHV licensing; which would see all drivers, vehicles and operators subject to robust checks and requirements on safety and accessibility. 
 
This would mean passengers can feel safe in knowing their Tax and PHV meets strict national standards, no matter where they are in the country. 
 
An amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment (EDCE) Bill, which was tabled on:- Tuesday, 18 November, allows these new powers to be introduced.

Baroness Casey's wide ranging report made 12 recommendations for Government, including:- addressing inconsistent standards of Tax and PHV driver licensing. The amendment would help protect passengers from the small number of people that seek to do harm and protect the reputation of the vast majority of the trade who are, as Baroness Casey acknowledged:- "law abiding people providing an important service to the public." 

Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said:- "While the vast majority of Tax and Tax vehicle drivers are responsible, passenger safety is our top priority. We are therefore working quickly and decisively to address the concerns around Tax and PHV licensing highlighted in Baroness Casey's report.  This amendment is a 1st step and shows the Government is committed to delivering robust national minimum standards so passengers can travel with confidence." 

These standards will be subject to consultation and will be primarily focused on passenger safety and accessibility. 
 
The progress has been commended by Baroness Casey, safety campaigners and the Tax and Tax vehicle industry. 
 
Baroness Casey said:- "The vast majority of Tax drivers are law-abiding people who provide a vital service to the public. Yet, for too long, weaknesses in the Tax licensing system have left it open to exploitation by those intent on sexually exploiting children. I welcome this announcement as an important 1st step towards introducing new, rigorous standards that will help protect the most vulnerable."

The Government continues to consider wider options for reform, including:- on out of area working. As part of this, the Department for Transport will shortly be launching a consultation on making all local transport authorities responsible for Tax and PHV licensing; reducing the number of licensing authorities from 263 to 70; to help further increase consistency in standards.

Patrick Gallagher, Chief Operating Officer, Addison Lee:- "Having operated at the heart of London for 50 years, we welcome the Government's important move to introduce national minimum standards for Tax and PHV licensing. Passengers rightly expect and deserve a reliable service wherever they travel, yet the current system undermines passenger safety and fairness for responsible operators. A clear, legal baseline applied across every local authority is essential to establish a consistently high safety standard across the sector and to crack down on unscrupulous operators exploiting the law. We look forward to working closely with the Government to make these reforms a reality."

Suky Bhaker, CEO of The Suzy Lamplugh Trust said:- "The Suzy Lamplugh Trust welcomes the announcement that new legislation would enable the introduction of national minimum standards for Tax and Tax vehicle driver licensing. We have campaigned for decades to improve safety checks on drivers and close the current loophole in the law which enables drivers with convictions for violent and sexual offences to be knowingly given a licence. The recommendations from the Casey review and the Tax and Tax Vehicle Task and Finish Group report call for an urgent change in the law to protect passengers from the minority of drivers who wish to harm to passengers. Further delay will continue to put passenger safety at risk and we look forward to national minimum standards being introduced in consultation with independent experts at the earliest possible opportunity."

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