"Today, Chancellor John Healey has delivered a Budget that provides real hope for St Helens. From a £1.5 billion national boost for social housing to crucial energy bill support and tax cuts for our high streets, Labour is delivering the investment our borough has been crying out for. "The national Labour government is delivering for the people of St Helens Borough. By providing cheaper borrowing, removing VAT on social housing land, and securing vital funding, Labour is ensuring our community has the tools it needs to thrive. This investment is directly aimed at building the homes our residents desperately need and distributing essential energy support to our residents. Labour is committed to providing the resources necessary to support and improve lives right across St Helens Borough" - Cllr Keith Laird, Leader of St Helens Labour Group
A Budget for Working People: Labour Delivers on Housing, Energy, and High Streets.
The St Helens Labour Group has welcomed Chancellor John Healey’s Autumn Budget, which delivers a comprehensive package tackling the housing crisis, slashing energy bills, and supporting local enterprise.
Today’s Budget proves that a national Labour government is firmly on the side of working people, with unprecedented funding and new powers now flowing out of Westminster.
Building the Council Homes St Helens Needs
At the centre of the Chancellor’s announcement is a massive £1.5 billion national cash injection for social and affordable housing. This boosts total government capital investment in housing to over £40 billion over the next decade.
Crucially, the Labour government is making it easier and cheaper for local authorities to build. Chancellor Healey confirmed the extension of cheaper borrowing rates for councils and announced that all land sold to social housing providers will now be VAT-free. The Budget also commits an additional £430 million to end rough sleeping, ensuring vulnerable people in our borough have a route off the streets every winter.
Tackling the Cost of Living and Energy Crisis
St Helens Borough has historically ranked among the areas at greatest risk from the cost of living crisis, with past estimates showing a significant proportion of our households severely impacted by fuel poverty. Today’s Budget meets this challenge head-on, delivering vital energy bill support to give families in the Borough the breathing space they desperately need.
Breathing Space for Local Businesses
The Chancellor’s decision to raise the small business rates relief threshold from £12,000 to £18,000 is a victory for our local high streets. This targeted tax cut will take 70,000 businesses out of paying rates entirely across the country, providing a lifeline to St Helens Borough’s shops, pubs, and cafes.
Cllr Keith Laird, Leader of St Helens Labour Group said:
“Today, Chancellor John Healey has delivered a Budget that provides real hope for St Helens. From a £1.5 billion national boost for social housing to crucial energy bill support and tax cuts for our high streets, Labour is delivering the investment our borough has been crying out for.“The national Labour government is delivering for the people of St Helens Borough. By providing cheaper borrowing, removing VAT on social housing land, and securing vital funding, Labour is ensuring our community has the tools it needs to thrive. This investment is directly aimed at building the homes our residents desperately need and distributing essential energy support to our residents. Labour is committed to providing the resources necessary to support and improve lives right across St Helens Borough”