Ahead of Wednesday’s Spring Statement, Labour’s Cllr Tim Swift is calling on the Chancellor to provide real help to the people of Calderdale by dropping his most damaging policies as the cost of living crisis continues to hammer working families. That means:

• Dropping the National Insurance Rise – which will push taxes to their highest levels in 70 years
• Provide real help with energy bills funded by a tax on the bumper profits of oil and gas companies

“Families in Calderdale are struggling to pay the bills. But instead of helping, the Conservatives are planning to make things even worse with a 15th Tory tax rise in just two years. On top of everything else, the average worker in Calderdale faces a tax hike of £221 – that’s more than many families can bear.

“There is a much better way. Labour would drop the National Insurance hike, and provide real help with energy bills funded by a one off tax on the bumper profits of oil and gas companies.”

Labour’s fully funded plan to help families with their energy bills

To address the immediate crisis, Labour would bring in fully-funded measures now to reduce the expected price rise in April – saving most households around £200 or more – but targeted extra support to squeezed middle, pensioners and the lowest earners, receiving up to £600 off bills and preventing all of the increase in energy bills currently expected.

They would pay for this with a one-off windfall tax on North Sea Oil and Gas producers who have profited from price rises.