George Freeman MP today commented on the Chancellor’s spring statement saying

“After nine months of big tax on small businesses and massive extra borrowing and spending on Government, today the Chancellor to come to Parliament to state that growth has halved since the election, and announce emergency cuts to welfare to avoid a crisis.

“No mention was made of relief for Norfolk’s hard-pressed pensioners, or for our rising youth unemployment, or our charities hit by the jobs tax, or our pubs, or dying High Streets. There was no reference to our farms, nor the rural economy reeling from the attack on farming to subsidise massive solar farms set aside, net zero pylons and cables stretching across our countryside.

“This was a budget for the Treasury in Whitehall rather than the real economy here in Norfolk. Just when we should be supporting rural industries to thrive we are faced with 50% more mandatory commuter housing across Mid Norfolk creating dormitory towns & villages instead of what we really need, vibrant communities.

“From next week our local charities, schools, pubs, SMEs, family farms and suppliers will be hit by the increase in NI payments. This is a tax on jobs that will impact employment in our rural areas.  If we want to preserve and protect the Norfolk way of life, we need policies to help Norfolk’s economy, towns and villages - not this top-down Big Government in London.”