If you haven’t yet had a chance to do so, this template (based on press releases from the team at Lib Dem HQ) can be seen below.
Chancellor delivers "a botched Budget which fails to deliver for [COUNCIL AREA]
Speaking on the Government’s Budget, [COUNCILLOR NAME], said:
“This is a botched Budget from a Chancellor who sees the problem but won’t fix it. Promises on growth and tackling the cost of living have once again been broken.
“The Conservatives left the UK’s finances in a terrible state for families, local services and small businesses in [COUNCIL AREA]. We wanted bold decisions, instead the Government delivered a tax bombshell for millions.
“The Chancellor’s Budget offered nothing to fix the growing crisis in social care, which hurts so many elderly and vulnerable people and is devastating for the NHS. With council finances already under severe pressure, now worsened by the damaging jobs tax, the crisis in social care is expected to only deepen after the Budget.
“The Government’s version of the ‘mansion tax’ is riddled with complications, and unintended consequences. It will do nothing to fairly reform the broader property tax system - including council tax, stamp duty and business rates.”
[Options for areas which may want a tourism levy]
[COUNCILLOR NAME] added: “the Tourist Levy is one that local Liberal Democrats have long been calling for. While welcome, it should be one that recognises the costs as well as the benefits of tourism and allows us to reinvest directly into the services and infrastructure across [COUNCIL AREA] that make great visits possible.”
[Option for councils covering farming / rural communities]
[COUNCILLOR NAME] added: “after the Government failed to scrap the Family Farm Tax in the Budget, Liberal Democrats have said that they will continue to campaign, and for a fair deal for rural communities and farmers, including investment in tackling rural crime.”
ENDS