Chris Speaks About The "Worst Budget" He "Has Witnessed"
Christopher Chope Conservative, Christchurch 3:04, 27 November 2025
It is a pleasure to follow Adam Jogee. I thank him for his support for the campaign against the family farm tax, and for his courage in speaking out in favour of abolishing that impost on our farming communities.
It is no exaggeration to say that this is the worst Budget that I have witnessed as a Member of this House, but it generated the best response I have ever heard from the Leader of the Opposition. I congratulate my right hon. Friend Mrs Badenoch on the way that she dealt with it, and I start by referring to her excellent speech. She said:
“the Chancellor has, by her own admission, broken her manifesto promise on income tax. In the last Budget, she said: “I am keeping every single promise on tax that I made in our manifesto, so there will be no extension of the freeze in income tax…thresholds”.
She also said that
“extending the threshold freeze would hurt working people. It would take more money out of their payslips.”—[Official Report, 26 November 2025;
Vol. 776, c. 403.]
Yesterday, the Chancellor had the gall to say, in the conclusion of her speech, that she was
“keeping every single one of our manifesto commitments”—[Official Report, 26 November 2025;
Vol. 776, c. 399.]
It is hardly surprising that disillusionment with politics and the political system in our country is running so high, when there is that sort of betrayal of not just a manifesto commitment, but even what was said last year. I happened to be, I think, the only Conservative MP at the CBI dinner last year, and I heard the Chancellor say to Rupert Soames, president of the CBI, that she was not coming back for more, that there was a clean slate, and that the Government would not increase taxes. She seems to have disregarded what she said a year ago to the CBI. Was she seduced by Rupert Soames? I do not know. Did she mean what she said, or did she not? It is hardly surprising that people do not trust this Government any longer.
Those who had the misfortune—I do not know whether you ever did, Madam Deputy Speaker—to travel on Belgium’s national airline Sabena developed the acronym “such a bad experience, never again”, and that is exactly the view of those who voted Labour for the first time at the last General Election. They are saying, “never again”, because they witness the arrogance, the incompetence, and the downright deceit of this Labour Government.
It is worth putting on record the extent to which taxes are now increasing. Table A.5 in the Office for Budget Responsibility’s “Economic and fiscal outlook” sets that out. I put this in the context of what the Chancellor of the exchequer said on the “Today” programme this morning. When asked whether she would rule out further tax increases in this Parliament, she declined to answer, and in essence said that she would not, but let us remind ourselves of the tax increases already in the Budget. In 2024-25, income tax was £305.9 billion. It is going up to £410.9 billion by 2029-30, which is an increase of £105 billion, or over one third. National insurance is going up from £171.4 billion to £239.2 billion, an increase of 40% over five years. Business rates are rising from £32.1 billion to £41.9 billion, an increase of 30% over five years. Council tax is rising from £47.4 billion to £63.3 billion over five years, an increase of at least one third. Inheritance tax is rising from £8.3 billion to £13.5 billion, an increase of 60% over five years. It is hardly surprising that people are feeling poorer and betrayed. Very few people will experience increases in their household income of anything like those proportions in the next five years. That is why this Budget is such a disaster and a betrayal of the national interest.
There is also an unhealthy development in the Budget that I hope you, Madam Deputy Speaker, can discuss with Mr Speaker. Many constituencies were mentioned, and Labour Members were identified as having contributed to the Chancellor’s decisions. It struck me that people are now being bought off by the Chancellor in return for their support, and that is an extremely unhealthy development. It is basically what we have seen happening in the United States, and we do not like it at all.
Anna Gelderd Labour, South East Cornwall 3:10, 27 November 2025
This Budget sets out fair decisions that benefit communities across the country that have felt the strain of the last decade, and that expect to see the change that they voted for delivered, and the cost of living brought under control.
I am delighted that Cornwall’s potential has been recognised with the new £30 million Kernow industrial growth fund. This new fund demonstrates that Cornwall once again has a leading role to play in powering the UK economy. Mining is at the heart of our story in Cornwall. With the new support, we can begin the next chapter, in which critical minerals and other core industries will help us to unlock the next great industrial revolution, and greener, cheaper energy. The fund will support local businesses and workers. That investment is combined with the stability that will come through extended business rate retention, and sits alongside wider opportunities offered through the National Wealth Fund, the British Business Bank and Great British Energy. These choices support secure, year-round jobs, and this combination of investment, stability and real change for the Majority of working people is reflected throughout the Budget
South East Cornwall will feel a benefit through local growth and to family finances. Families gain real support. Wages have risen faster in the first year of this Government than they did over the past decade. The reduction in energy Bills and the freeze to prescription charges, fuel duty and rail fares will be welcomed by my residents in South East Cornwall. The changes to universal credit will bring thousands back into work, strengthening labour markets in places like Liskeard, Torpoint and Callington.
One of the most significant steps is the decision to scrap the two-child benefit limit. Shockingly, child poverty rose by 900,000 between 2010 and 2024. I say “shockingly”, but I am not sure if that truly shocks the Conservatives, who presided over that decline. I know what child poverty looks like. I know how it locks people out of opportunities through no fault of their own, and I know how hard schools, campaigners, charities and other support systems work to try to bridge the gap, but some gaps require systemic change. This Budget will lift 450,000 children out of poverty. That is what systemic change under this Labour Government looks like.
In South East Cornwall, relative child poverty stood at 21.7% in 2023, meaning that almost a quarter of our local children entered school already facing hardship. Growing up in poverty makes people less likely to be in work, and more likely to earn 25% less, aged 30, so that is not good for kids or for the adults they become, and it is not good for our economy. This Budget reduces pressure and gives families a more secure start.
For too long, local healthcare has been a challenge for residents in South East Cornwall, so I am pleased that Labour is backing our NHS with extra support. Investment in healthcare technology and the creation of 250 neighbourhood health centres will cut waiting lists and improve access. The NHS neighbourhood rebuild opens up more than 120 new centres by 2030, and there will be improvements at Truro health park. That is backed by real investment; these are not fantasy priorities. Residents in South East Cornwall rely on services in both Cornwall and Plymouth, and these upgrades will bring benefits right across my region.
Young people get new opportunities as well. Investment in school libraries and new playgrounds will improve learning and wellbeing, and there will be an £820 million investment to support young people by guaranteeing them a place in college, an apprenticeship or personalised job support. The free apprenticeship training for under 25s in small businesses will help local employers across South East Cornwall. That is 1,854 small and medium-sized enterprises in my region that will be able to train and retain young people. This is a real chance to build a local, skilled workforce and to keep that talent at home in Cornwall.
Cornwall needs the tools to strengthen its visitor economy in a way that benefits our local people in the long term, so an overnight visitor levy could be an important step. We rely heavily on tourism, yet residents often feel the pressure of the summer peaks without seeing the long-term benefits, so the power to raise local revenue and reinvest in our community projects could create a fairer balance and support a more resilient local economy.
I also welcome the new announcement for farmers and their families. The ability for spouses to transfer any unused agricultural and business property relief allowances gives farming families more certainty as they plan for their future. South East Cornwall is a proud rural and coastal Constituency, and I have been working with many local farmers to ensure that their views are heard in my discussions with Ministers. Fixing thresholds and closing loopholes strengthens confidence, but I know there is further work to do.
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