Fairness is the value that characterises the Falkirk I love. Whether its neighbours helping one another with their shopping, volunteers grafting to keep community spaces open for families at Christmas, or local businesses giving back. Falkirk knows what it means to do our bit — and we rightly expect the system to do the same for us.
Next week, the Chancellor will present the Labour Government’s second Budget. Last year we ended 14 years of austerity by providing an additional £5.2 billion extra for Scottish public services. Labour restored stability and rebuilt the foundations of our public finances. It showed that long-term investment — including here in Falkirk — would finally return, with every commitment costed and deliverable.
One Budget cannot undo a decade and a half of decline. Britain faces deep structural challenges: stagnating growth, lost productivity and the lasting economic fallout of Brexit and the 2008 financial crisis. Last year’s Budget confronted these realities by raising revenue fairly, investing in infrastructure and rejecting the uncosted, fantasy approach of the opposition. Falkirk benefited directly, receiving a £21.5 million commitment through Pride in Place, £20m extra for our Growth Deal and £200m secured for investment in Grangemouth.
For too long, people have paid more while services deteriorated. That is unfair and unsustainable. If you can’t see a GP, you’re less able to work; if the justice system is broken, victims of crime go unheard for years. Labour’s long-term investment plans — including billions more for public services — will help build the schools, hospitals, essential services the UK needs.
However, too few of my constituents have seen that £5.2bn extra we secured for Scotland spent wisely if at all by Scottish Government Ministers, who reported a £1,000,000,000 underspend for the last financial year.
Though serious long-term challenges are in our government’s gift to change, this Budget must be bold. Ending the cruel two-child cap is essential. Poverty of blameless children cannot be allowed to rise any further. Through ill-thought welfare reforms in the summer, we’ve sadly squandered too many chances to show that our approach to welfare can be compassionate. Scrapping the cap would lift families out of poverty and mark a crucial shift in direction towards a welfare system that people feel cares for them.
Energy bills also remain too high, driven by the outdated link between electricity and gas prices and the insufficiency of long-term clean energy infrastructure. I strongly support scaling up wind, solar and nuclear — but people must feel a real reduction in bills now.
Under this Government there are rising wages, rising pensions, falling mortgage costs and falling interest rates.
But the mission is bigger than a spreadsheet: a fair, resilient economy where hard work is rewarded and public services are properly funded is the prize. A Fair System. I’ll continue fighting for that goal as Falkirk’s voice in Westminster.
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