The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt set out the government's Autumn Statement, which included measures to:
- Increase the national living wage to £11.44 and apply it to 21-year olds and above
- Increase working age benefits by 6.7%, in line with inflation, and increase local housing allowance so it covers the bottom 30% of market rents
- Force people claiming benefits to undertake mandatory work experience if they do not find a job after 18 month
- Cut the main 12% rate of employee national insurance to 10%
- Extend the business rate relief for hospitality and other changes to business investment.
For details you can read the full Autumn Statement here.
Locality's Director of Policy Ed Wallis, responded, saying:
“In an effort to make the economy stronger, the Chancellor has reached for the usual election year tools. But headline grabbing announcements on taxes and benefits will not solve the underlying issues in our society.
"Whether it’s helping people into work, leading the way on net zero, or tackling inequality, it’s local people not Westminster politicians who have the answers.
“Yet instead of shifting power and resources to local people, successive governments have continued to rely on the levers in Whitehall. If the Chancellor really wants to unlock the potential of people across the country, he should take the leap and kickstart a community power revolution.”
Locality has recently released its manifesto, in advance of the upcoming election. We're calling for a community power revolution - a bold 10 year plan for a country built on thriving neighbourhoods.