Copeland MP Jamie Reed today welcomed the Budget unveiled by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.
He said: “This is a Budget for Britain’s families, addressing the priorities of ordinary people and showing that only Labour understands the needs of Copeland’s families and pensioners”.

“Gordon Brown announced that spending on public services is to set to increase with spending on education rising to its highest ever level. This will be good news for schools, pupils and parents here in Copeland and confirms that education remains Labour’s number one priority.

“And there  was good news for hardworking families as well with more help with the costs of bringing up children.

 “Child Benefit will rise over the next three years to £20 a week.  In 1997 Child Benefit was just £575 a year.  Now, under plans announced today by Gordon Brown, Child Benefit will be over £1,000 a year by 2010.

 “Labour passionately believes that every child deserves the best possible start.  Already 2,500 families and 4,600 children in Copeland benefit from Labour’s tax credits, and  today, Gordon Brown announced an increase in the child element of the Child Tax Credit by £150 per year. 

 “On top of this the Chancellor was able to announce he was cutting the basic rate of income tax from 22 pence to 20 pence from April 2008. This is the lowest rate for 75 years from the most successful Chancellor this country has ever seen.

 “The contribution of those who have built our country and raised families in the past was also recognised in today’s Budget. Increases in pensioners’ tax allowance will take 600,000 pensioners out of paying income tax altogether, as we move forward to restore the earnings link for the basic state pension.

 “The adult rate of the National Minimum Wage will be raised to £5.52 per hour and an increase in the Working Tax Credit, along with a new initiative with the major retailers will help more people find jobs and employment in the future.

 “By simplifying the tax system, increasing support to families and pensioners and making work pay, the Budget shows why Labour in Copeland is best for long term prosperity and fairness.

  “The Tories would fail to equip Britain for the global economy. David Cameron is committed to scrapping the New Deal which would return Britain to unemployment, cutting the child tax credit that gives more support to families, and his promised spending cuts would slash investment in our schools, hospitals and other vital public services by approximately £21 billion.

 “In stark contrast, Gordon Brown today announced that a further £8 billion will go into the NHS this year and that education spending in England will rise from £60 billion today to £74 billion in 2010 – this means that spending per pupil will rise to £6,600 by this date.  Copeland needs this investment if we are to equip ourselves for the 21^st century and if we are to continue to benefit from a growing, sustainable economy with modern, radically improved public services.”