Local Labour representatives have welcome Wednesday’s announcement while local Conservatives say it is “bad for Barnet” reports David Floyd

The UK houses of parliament, viewed from across the road at the top of The Mall — The palace of Westminster – home to the UK’s houses of parliament

Labour politicians in Barnet have welcomed the party’s first budget for 14 years while local Conservatives say the new economic package is bad for the borough.

Following chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement on Wednesday of a range of tax rises and spending increases, Barnet Council’s Labour leader Barry Rawlings hailed the measures but also warned of the need for ongoing savings at a local level. He said: “This budget is a step in the right direction for Barnet but after 14 years of significant underfunding, our financial situation remains challenging.”

He added: “While the headline announcement brings us some welcome relief, this doesn’t change the need for us to make efficiency savings, nor to continue to transform our services.

The chancellor’s approach also found favour with Labour MP for Chipping Barnet, Dan Tomlinson, who told Barnet Post: “People in Chipping Barnet voted for positive change, and this Labour Budget provides the change we need. It secures funding for 1,300 more police officers in London, £500 million for fixing potholes, almost £2 billion to support high street businesses by reforming rates, and the funding needed to bring down waiting lists with 40,000 extra NHS appointments each week.”

He added: “[Wednesday’s] Budget breaks years of Conservative ‘quick fixes’ that held our country back. As Rachel Reeves said, ‘this budget marks an end to short-termism’. This Labour government is choosing investment over decline, building a stronger future for us all.”

However, local Conservatives were highly critical of many of the decisions taken, including cuts to benefits for pensioners and the introduction of VAT on private school fees.

Barnet Conservative group leader, Peter Zinkin, told Barnet Post: “This budget attacked pensioners with the winter fuel allowance, families with the changes to inheritance tax, small businesses with hikes in National Insurance contributions, first-time buyers with changes to stamp duty, farmers and religious education.

He added: “Both nationally and locally, Labour is bad for Barnet.”

Barnet Post will publish full comment pieces from both Labour and the Conservatives next week.

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