East Herts Green Party warns Labour Budget will cause ‘avoidable poverty’ for district’s young and old

Children and pensioners in East Herts “will continue to suffer avoidable poverty” as a result of Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget.

The charge comes from the Green Party, which runs the district council in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and is in charge of Hertford and Ware town councils.

East Herts Cllr Carl Brittain, executive member for financial sustainability, said: “Despite Labour’s promises, the budget failed to deliver the significant change that the country is crying out for.

“The refusal to end the two-child benefit cap or reverse the Winter Fuel Payment cut will mean children and pensioners in East Herts will continue to suffer avoidable poverty.

“These measures are only likely to add further pressure on our over-stretched NHS.

“The Chancellor should have increased taxation on the super-rich to bring in the money needed to undo cruel Conservative policies and prevent Labour’s cuts.

“This was a great opportunity to create a fairer tax system, which unfortunately the Chancellor ignored.”

He had harsh words for Ms Reeve’s decision to raise the single bus fare cap from £2 to £3 until the end of 2025. About 3.4 million people in England use buses.

Cllr Brittain said: “The Labour government chose to hike bus fares in England by 50% and freeze fuel duty.

“Any responsible Government must encourage the use of public transport while investing in walking and cycling infrastructure.

“These Labour measures will not only exacerbate the climate crisis for our future generations but will also hit the poorest in society the hardest.”

Cllr Brittain is in charge of East Herts Council’s budget as the authority battles a debt crisis.

He said: “The increase in funding for the NHS is welcome, however, local government funding looks inadequate to tackle the severe problems in the sector. Many essential services councils provide will remain under threat.”