Kate Osborne MP: Budget is real chance to change course after let downs by Tories

Many letters and emails in my mailbox contain accounts from constituents about the pressures they are facing – rising costs, insecure work, stretched public services, and a social security system that no longer gives people the protection or dignity they deserve.

We know that the cost of living crisis is the number one issue facing people in the UK – people are still facing increasing costs and seven million people in Britain are unable to afford essentials like food, energy, and toiletries.

After decades of ideologically-driven austerity cuts under the previous Tory government, this Budget must deliver fairness and improve the lives of the people in this country.

Let's be very clear the UK is the sixth largest economy in the world – we have the wealth to tackle these crises – we need the political will to do so.

Of course, right up to the last minute, I will be lobbying the Chancellor, the Prime Minister and Ministers for more for the North East, for a wealth tax and a windfall tax on profits that would enable billions to be raised to invest in our communities and public services.

And I will be lobbying very specifically on a number of things that I know matter hugely to my constituents.

Specifically, the Budget must include the removal of the cruel two-child limit on benefits. This policy is now the biggest driver of rising child poverty across the UK.

It is upsetting and simply unacceptable that one in three local children are growing up in poverty. I see the consequences every week. Parents working long hours but are still struggling. Schools providing food, clothing and basic essentials because they know families cannot cope. Our wonderful food banks across South Tyneside are stretched to the limit with Bede’s Helping Hands this week saying their shelves had never been so bare.

The two-child limit is the result of a political choice made by the previous government – I’ve pushed relentlessly for this policy to be scrapped. The government has hinted they may be listening – but warm words won’t feed a single child. Only full abolition will do.

Another urgent priority is fair compensation for the WASPI women – the women born in the 1950s who had their State Pension Age raised without proper notice.

South Tyneside has one of the highest numbers of WASPI women in the country. Women who worked all their lives, paid in, cared for families, and played by the rules, only to be blindsided by a decision that tore up their retirement plans.

I meet with the campaigners regularly and the years of financial hardship and deep emotional stress they have suffered must be put right.

This Budget must finally deliver a fair, fast, properly resourced compensation scheme – they have waited far too long for justice.

There's another injustice this Budget must also make right and that is Miners Pensions – last month I met again with people who live in my constituency who are former miners and members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS)

The Budget must release the £2.3billion from the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) investment reserve fund – this money belongs to the miners and must be released to them.

After decades of service, sacrifice and physically demanding work, our miners deserve nothing less than financial fairness in retirement. Their work built the foundations of our communities and it is only fair that they see justice.

This Budget must extend and even expand the Household Support Fund – it's a vital lifeline to many.

We must see investment in transport, in sports and facilities for our youth and we must see investment in local services.

Our constituency relies on strong public services, but after years of cuts, far too many are at breaking point.

Our Councils were the worst hit through the Tories slashing Local Authority budgets year on year – the fair funding formula the Government announced did not deliver enough for our local Councils and I have been lobbying Ministers for much much more – this Budget needs to deliver that investment.

As Chair of the North East All Party Parliamentary Group, we have secured investment in the North East with the £1.8billion investment in the North East to include the much-needed Metro expansion to Washington - but we need more.

This Budget must reflect our community’s values of fairness, dignity and compassion.

After years of being let down under the Tories, this Budget is a real chance to change course.

A real chance to tackle the realities of people’s lives and address the cost-of-living crisis – I will keep demanding that we deliver for communities.