Local Lib Dem chair condemns “cost of chaos” Budget

Buckingham Lib Dems Chair Anja Schaefer has accused the Conservatives of “incompetence and chaos” after the autumn statement saw tax hikes and cuts to local public services for people in Buckinghamshire. The Chancellor’s measures come in the wake of economic turmoil following the Conservative “mini-budget” which saw mortgage rates spike.

For months Anja Schaefer and the Liberal Democrats have been calling for a tougher windfall tax on oil and gas giants to help pay for help with energy bills and support for the vulnerable.

Anja Schaefer said:

“This is the cost of chaos budget. Everyone is being forced to pay the price for this Conservative government’s incompetence.

“People in Bucks are being asked to pick up the bill for the Conservative party crashing the economy, while oil and gas giants are left off the hook. People here are being forced to suffer unfair tax hikes and cuts to our public services for years to come.

“We need a fair deal, including support for people unable to afford skyrocketing mortgage bills and rents, and protecting funding for local public services. This could be paid for by reversing tax cuts for banks and a proper windfall tax, instead of imposing years of stealth taxes on ordinary families. This is an out of touch Government which has no plan to help people in Buckinghamshire with their bills."

Peter Cooper, Lib Dem Unitary Councillor for Wing ward added:

“The Chancellor has put a delay mechanism into the budget designed to time much of the inevitable pain until after the next election. This is a cynical attempt to lull voters into a false sense of security. They are kicking the can down the road in a vain attempt to win electoral advantage.

“Another almost certain outcome is that Bucks residents will be facing a maximum 5% increase in their Council Tax next year. This would be a direct result of the disastrous Truss/Kwarteng mini-budget and the resulting Sunak/Hunt austerity budget that has followed.”

Liberal Democrats are calling for

• Put a proper windfall tax on the profits of the fossil fuel giants, including closing the loophole that allowed Shell to not pay a penny in windfall taxes
• Introduce a new Mortgage Protection Fund to protect families from losing their homes because of the Conservative Property Penalty, paid for by reversing the Conservatives’ unfair and unnecessary tax cuts for the big banks.
• Increase pensions and benefits at least in line with inflation.