Jane Dodds - The Chancellor Has Left Welsh Households Hung Out to Dry

Responding to the UK Government budget, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds has today criticised the UK Government’s budget for not doing enough to support households hit by the cost of living crisis as well as continuing to deprive Wales of HS2 funding and failing to future-proof the country against rising energy prices.

Commenting Jane Dodds MS said:

“This Budget shows the Conservative Party is completely out of touch.

“They had a chance to show they care about the cost-of-living crisis that’s hitting thousands of Welsh families and pensioners but they failed miserably.

“This was an opportunity to cut energy bills and give households a real helping hand. They could have borrowed Liberal Democrat plans to cut bills by an average of £500.

“Likewise, there is nothing here to future-proof homes against future energy price rises. Wales and the UK has some of the least energy-efficient homes in Northern Europe. Without a real insulation programme families will remain vulnerable to price shocks.

“Beyond the energy crisis the UK Government has continued to deprive Wales of billons of pounds in HS2 funding it is owed, setting up our poor public transport systems for continued failure.”

On the expansion of childcare in England she added:

“Labour and Plaid Cymru’s childcare plans in Wales are simply not ambitious enough to move the dial for families.

“Childcare costs are one of the most pressing issues facing families up and down Wales right now and it is holding our economy back by keeping parents out of the workforce because for many families it is more cost-effective for a parent to stay at home than return to work.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called for and will continue to call for free part-time childcare from 9 months for all parents regardless of work status and the Welsh Government must use extra money it will receive today to at very least match England.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:
 

• The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Chancellor to cut the Energy Price Guarantee by £500 per household, funded through a proper windfall tax on the record profits of oil and gas companies. This would mean average bills would drop to £1,971 a year, with the support in place until next April.
• The Liberal Democrats are also calling extra targeted support for the least well-off households, including doubling the Warm Homes Discount to £300.
• The Welsh Liberal Democrats committed to funding free part-time childcare from 9 months for all parents regardless of work status in their 2021 Senedd Manifesto