I’ve had an extremely busy few days here in South Swindon, and it has been great to meet with so many local people. On Friday, I held a Loneliness Event with Swindon Seniors Forum at Buckhurst Community Centre as part of our ongoing campaign. Our Loneliness Events are always well attended and this one was no exception! It was great to bring together local residents, businesses, charities, and key local organisations, to discuss the excellent work that is already taking place here in the town, as well as what further we can all do. This was a very productive event, and I would like to thank all who attended, as well as thanking our special guest, Christabel Flight, Founder of Silver Sunday.
On Saturday I held a very busy Surgery at Eldene Community Centre. Thank you to the many residents who attended, as well as my team, Cllr Bazil Solomon and Cllr Zachary Hawson for their hard work.
In recent years as MP here in South Swindon, I have been contacted by independent workers who have experienced issues with IR35, the off-payroll working rules that can apply if a worker (sometimes known as a contractor) provides their service through their own limited company or another type of intermediary to the client. Reforms to off-payroll working have added unnecessary complexity and cost for many independent workers, along with the businesses that engage with them, so I am glad that as part of the Growth Plan announced by the Chancellor last week, the 2017 and 2021 reforms will be repealed. This change is important because it will help to prevent increased costs within the supply chain, and higher fees and charges. This will help many of our very small businesses and sole proprietors working here in Swindon.
As part of the Growth Plan, the Chancellor also announced that the Energy Bill Relief Scheme will discount wholesale gas and electricity prices for all shops, factories, and offices, as well as public sector buildings, such as schools and hospitals. This will provide our businesses with the equivalent support to what has also been offered to households. This is an unprecedented intervention by the Government, which is going to cost a significant amount of money, but it is necessary to ensure that our businesses and public sector services are supported during the energy crisis, which was brought about by Putin’s deplorable actions in Ukraine.
Companies producing gas, oil, or electricity are making a big profit at the moment because of the huge world demand, however, it is worth noting that oil and gas companies based in the North Sea are already paying three separate profit-related taxes – ring fence corporation tax, supplementary charge and petroleum revenue (PRT), which is much more than the standard rate of 19%.
The Chancellor also announced as part of the Growth Plan that the basic rate of income tax will be cut to 19% in April 2023, which is one year earlier than planned. This move equates to 31 million people here in the UK receiving on average £170 more a year. In addition, the cut in National Insurance to 1.25% announced by the Chancellor will also help to further boost pay packets.
The last two and a half years have been extremely difficult for us all, with the global pandemic and now war creating a huge burden on our country and economy. This has driven up the cost of all we have taken for granted, and I am glad that our Government has responded with the Growth Plan, and we will continue to do whatever it takes to protect our country and its people at this difficult time.
Finally, my local charity of the week is The Walcot Community Shop. Located at Sussex Place, this fantastic charity has been supporting the people of Swindon for over twenty years. The shop sells quality second-hand clothing and furniture, with profits being used for a fund that helps people in the local community.
Over the years, this wonderful charity has provided invaluable support to residents here in Swindon, at a time when they have needed it the most. This has included paying the costs for a local lady who had to travel to Oxford to visit her terminally ill husband and paying for a child with terminal cancer to visit Disneyland.
The Walcot Community Shop welcome donations of good quality second-hand clothing and furniture, and they and are always on the lookout for members of the local community that they may be able to support. Why not pay them a visit?
