The Chancellor’s latest budget “is driving the economy forward and keeping the UK working”, according to the Conservative Party’s Northern Ireland economy spokesman and Strangford Westminster PPC, Johnny Andrews.
“This is a budget to keep the country on the road to prosperity and maintain the Conservatives’ long-term economic plan”, Johnny emphasised. “The plan is delivering for the UK as a whole and for Northern Ireland specifically. During today’s statement, George Osborne reiterated the importance of the Executive parties here doing what they said they would do in the Stormont House Agreement, so that powers to lower Corporation Tax, delivered by Conservatives, can be implemented and jobs can be created for everyone.
“The Chancellor has also ensured that 698,000 taxpayers here will be on average £900 per year better off, by raising the level at which people start paying tax to £10,800 next year and £11,000 the year after. By 2017, the government will have lifted 103,000 people in Northern Ireland out of income tax altogether, since 2010. In addition, hard pressed motorists and businesses in Northern Ireland will be better off yet again under a Conservative chancellor, as another fuel duty increase is cancelled. Meanwhile the burden of completing tax returns is lifted off millions of people, as HM Revenue and Customs takes responsibility for assessing income tax.”
“This is a budget which delivers for hard-working people in Northern Ireland. It’s also a budget that maintains the long-term economic plan, which has returned the economy to health and tackled Labour’s debt bomb, and sets out a route-map to end austerity. That’s why it so important for Northern Ireland that a Conservative majority government keeps the UK on track, after this year’s election. And it’s why the Conservative Party will be asking local electors to help, by giving us their votes in May.”