The British public deserves a government that keeps its promises and puts people at the heart of every decision. Yet the latest budget from Labour reveals a stark departure from their election commitments, striking at the very core of public trust.
Labour promised economic responsibility, pledging not to burden working people with higher taxes or introduce policies that would hurt families and businesses. But the reality has fallen far short. Today, we’re facing a staggering £40 billion tax increase, significant spending hikes, and a wave of borrowing that will leave future generations to pay the price. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) recently dispelled the myth of Labour’s alleged £22 billion “black hole”—a financial gap largely created by their own spending decisions. Nearly half of this gap is linked to pay raises given to unions, showing Labour’s priorities lie more with union interests than with the public’s well-being.
One of the most alarming shifts is the £25 billion increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs)—a clear violation of Labour’s campaign promises. According to the OBR, this added burden on businesses will hit employees the hardest, pushing down wages and reducing job opportunities. For communities like Milton Keynes—where 99.5% of businesses are small and medium-sized, supporting 136,000 private-sector jobs—this "tax on jobs" will be devastating. Businesses already grappling with rising costs will find it harder to grow, invest, and hire. The result? Fewer jobs, fewer pay raises, and fewer opportunities.
Another glaring oversight in this budget is the absence of meaningful AI-specific investment, despite Labour’s pledge to make AI central to Britain’s future economy. The government’s failure to mention the promised AI Opportunities Action Plan is especially disappointing for Milton Keynes, a city rooted in tech and innovation. This lack of commitment leaves critical sectors without the support needed to fuel the UK’s future growth.
Labour inherited a thriving economy from the previous Conservative Government, the fastest-growing in the G7, but their recent actions represent a harmful deviation from prosperity. Despite higher NICs, increased stamp duty, and new VAT on independent school fees, public investment remains low at only 2.5% of GDP. These tax rises are not only punitive but add pressure on working families, leaving them with less. This, combined with Labour’s inability to secure significant investments, shows a government that seems more focused on union appeasement than on building a robust economy for everyone.
These measures don’t just affect businesses and workers; they also extend to essential public services. Care providers and waste management companies with council contracts will face higher costs, which will ultimately pass down to local councils and to you, the taxpayers.
In Milton Keynes, a city with ambitious plans to double its population and increase build-to-rent properties, the recent rise in stamp duty is expected to limit the availability of rental accommodations. This situation is likely to result in heightened competition for homes, which will consequently drive up rental costs and reduce the variety of choices available to renters.
The OBR warns that Labour’s borrowing-driven approach brings inflation risks, which in turn raises interest rates, mortgage costs, and puts further strain on public services. Rather than helping, these policies are piling on debt and driving up costs for everyone.
Equally concerning is the delay and uncertainty surrounding the New Women and Children’s Hospital Programme, a much-needed new healthcare facility for the people of Milton Keynes. Labour’s silence on this crucial issue leaves communities unsure about the future of vital services. These decisions do more than hinder healthcare; they erode public trust and leave communities feeling abandoned.
The Labour Government has committed a shameful betrayal by breaking another promise, to not introduce a Family Farm Tax, which will severely undermine farmers’ ability to pass their farms on to the next generation. In 2023, Labour said they would not change agricultural property relief (APR), which allows agricultural property to be passed on inheritance tax-free. Despite this, Labour have now announced that from April 2026, those who own farms worth over £1 million will now have to pay 20% inheritance tax. This broken promise threatens food security by forcing the sale of family farms and complicates British food production at a time when many farmers are already struggling with soaring costs and rising energy prices. This sudden tax increase isn’t just a hit on farmers; it’s a direct assault on working families and the very future of our agricultural community here in rural Milton Keynes and across the country.
Tax on education is a tax on aspiration. The rise in tuition fees is prompting young people to re-evaluate their futures and limiting their opportunities. Additionally, VAT on independent schools is yet another blow to aspiration and access to quality education.
The working person and our children need the buses to get to work and school, and capping the fare at £3 is only going to hit them harder.
In all these policy reversals and Labour going back on their word, public trust in politics is reaching an all-time low. Trust is built on action, transparency, and fulfilling promises. Each broken promise widens the gap between the government and the people, shaking the foundations of our democracy. Trust is not borne when you say you won't hit the working person, and then you hit them anyway.
Even pensioners, who’ve worked hard their entire lives and deserve a dignified retirement, have had their winter fuel support stripped away to cover union-driven wage increases. This is a breach of trust and an attack on the most vulnerable in our city. As living costs rise, our seniors are left out in the cold.
It’s time for Labour to rethink its approach. Britain needs policies that support growth without sacrificing stability, that protect future generations without undermining the present. Our country deserves a government that doesn’t gamble with the lives of working families—a government that genuinely puts people first.
