Government continues to ignore cost of living crisis

Following on from the government's failure to address the cost of living crisis in the Queen's Speech, over 300 Conservatives voted against a Liberal Democrat amendment to cut VAT - preventing families from receiving a £600 tax cut to help with the cost of living crisis. This most recent case of Conservative Party betrayal comes as families across Bedford Borough face 9% inflation, soaring energy bills and a real terms fall in wages.

Last week the Liberal Democrats put forward an amendment to the Queen's Speech that would have cut VAT from 20% to 17.5%, saving the average family £600 a year. The Liberal Democrats have campaigned for this tax cut for months because the government have refused to help families suffering with the cost of living crisis, instead raising taxes and increasing the pressure further. However, over 300 Conservative MPs, including North East Bedfordshire MP Richard Fuller, voted against the amendment, and blocked a £600 tax cut for Bedford Borough residents.

Commenting, Portfolio Holder for Town Centres & Planning Councillor Henry Vann said "People in Bedford Borough are struggling with skyrocketing energy bills and rising food and fuel prices. But the Conservatives have done nothing to help, and instead have blocked our calls for an emergency tax cut. Bedford Borough deserves better. Our plans for a VAT cut would put money back into people's pockets and boost spending in our high streets to support the economy."

With inflation hitting 9% and rising further, talks of future energy price cap rises and wages down 1.2% in real terms in the first quarter of 2022, the Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to act urgently to help struggling residents. The impacts of the cost of living crisis are evident in the publication of The Trussell Trust's end of year stats on foodbanks. From April 2021 until March 2022, Bedford Foodbank gave out 13,401 food parcels to people facing hardship in Bedford Borough, more than double the figure from five years ago (5,759).

Councillor Vann continued, "We now not only have anecdotal evidence of the impact of this crisis, but hard data on the number of people having to access foodbanks to feed themselves and their families. This is shocking and cannot go on. The government must act urgently to help support these people."