Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann has responded to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, conveying deep concern over its impact on households, businesses, and farm families across Northern Ireland. Highlighting what he sees as fundamental shortcomings, Mr Swann warns that behind the headline figures, the measures announced will place additional strain on workers and rural communities.

Robin Swann MP said,

“This budget fails across so many sectors and levels, while it looks on the surface to support workers, it is the multiple tax rises across so many sectors that will be felt.

“The freeze on tax thresholds for another two years will see more people and families now liable for tax when they hadn't been before.

“Farm families across the country and especially in Northern Ireland have been abandoned by this Chancellor as there was no movement on the Farm Family Inheritance Tax, despite all their campaigning and engagements, despite all the other U-turns, this is the one that the Government unfortunately didn't perform.

“While the £370m Barnet consequential is a welcome uplift, the Finance Minister has said he is £400m short this year alone, so this doesn't even touch the sides.

“The £16.6 million Internal Market Package, which seems to include the £2.25 million for Intertrade UK, to be spread over three years. Is an acknowledgment of the challenges businesses face under the Windsor Framework. But falls far short of addressing the real problem, trade divergence, so rather than sort the issues, money is being spent on systems and structures. Until this Government faces the reality that Northern Ireland operates under different rules than the rest of the UK, businesses will continue to struggle with uncertainty and extra costs. Support services help, but they do not remove the structural barriers created by the Framework.

“The details of the Treasury Red Book will now be scrutinised to see what impact it will have in homes and business.”