Yesterday was Budget day - with Chancellor the the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt setting out his plan for our finances for the coming year.
Thanks to decisions taken by him and Rishi back in the Autumn, the economy has stabalised and households have been shielded from record energy prices. That means inflation heading back down towards normal levels, and more money in the pocket of families across the UK. The next step is to get our economy growing again, and that’s what yesterday’s Budget was all about.
Firstly, the more people who are in work, the stronger our economy, and the more cash we have to fund public services like the NHS.
That's why we've looked across all stages of life to find out how we can help more people get back into work. Whether that's reforming pension rules to help people like doctors keep working longer, setting up a new Universal Support programme for disabled people and the long-term sick, or extending free childcare to include children over 9 months old - these measures will boost our workforce in both the private and public sector.
We also want businesses investing in new tech and ideas which improve our standard of living, and our new incentive for investment is the most generous in the whole of the OECD. And the Chancellor has also decided to keep the current £2,500 cap on average energy bills in place for the next three months as part of the £94 billion of support we've provided with the cost of living.
That wasn’t all though. There was also a tax cut for pubs, a freeze on Fuel Duty, and energy bills made fairer for people on prepayment meters - just to name a few. And Kent's going to be getting over £6 million to fund pothole repairs!
We have a plan for the British economy, and that plan is working.
