The Budget and Breathing Space for Families

This week, the Chancellor delivered his first Budget, setting out the UK Government's plans for the economy and outlining how it intends to support households and businesses over the coming year.

One of the phrases the Government used repeatedly was "breathing space". That is something the Liberal Democrats have been calling for. Our Treasury Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper, set out proposals for a "Breathing Space Budget" just last week, recognising the reality that many families are still feeling pressure on their household finances and are looking for reassurance about the future.

There were some sensible measures announced. The decision to remove energy standing charges will be welcomed by many households who have seen their bills remain high despite reducing their energy use. However, I do not believe this Budget goes far enough. It was missing a serious plan for economic growth, particularly when it comes to improving our relationship with Europe. Without a stronger focus on growth, it will struggle to match the scale of the cost-of-living challenges many people continue to face.

The Liberal Democrats argued for an Essential Energy Guarantee to cut household bills further, as well as reductions in fuel duty and VAT for pubs, restaurants and cafés. These measures would have provided more direct support to families and businesses while helping our local high streets.

Economic decisions made at Westminster have a direct impact here in North East Fife, but so too do decisions taken at Holyrood. As attention now turns towards the Scottish Budget, it is vital that discussions focus on the issues that matter most to communities across Scotland. In my role as Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, I will be meeting with MSP colleagues this week to discuss how we can continue pressing the Scottish Government to deliver on those priorities.

Access to both social and affordable housing remains one of the issues raised with me most often. This week, I raised concerns in Parliament after new figures showed that housebuilding in Scotland has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade. Investment in housing is not only important for those looking for

somewhere to live, but also for supporting jobs and economic growth.

I was encouraged to hear the Chancellor announce the removal of VAT on land sold to affordable housing developers. Given the shortage of affordable homes in North East Fife, any measure that helps bring down development costs and supports the delivery of new homes is welcome.

As the detail of the Budget continues to be examined and negotiations begin ahead of the Scottish Budget later this year, I will continue making the case for North East Fife. Whether the issue is housing, healthcare or support with the cost of living, the focus must remain on delivering practical improvements that make a difference to people's lives.

You can view when I raised concerns in Parliament about Scotland's housing shortage here: https://youtube.com/shorts/fPAxpBIjR9k