“What we desperately needed was support for the NHS, transport, education and the environment. The Conservatives’ Autumn Statement completely failed to deliver.”
The Liberal Democrats called for the Chancellor to commit to a strong rescue plan to tackle the crisis in the NHS, as the waiting list reached a record high of 7.8 million people.
Research by the Party found that one in seven people had been forced to take a significant amount of time off work whilst waiting for treatment, hampering much needed economic growth.
Liberal Demcorat Parliamentary Candidate for Guildford Zöe Franklin said:
“The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement was an opportunity for the Conservatives to prove they care about our NHS and the people stuck on waiting lists for treatment. Getting people the care they need would of course improve their health and quality of life, but also allow them to return to work so we can rescue our flatlining economy. Yet we saw nothing at all from the Government today that will make any difference.
“Tax cuts” nothing more than a “con”
Zöe Franklin added:
“The Chancellor might think he can con us with the headline figures and persuade us he is cutting our taxes, but the Government’s own figures show we’re struggling with the highest tax burden in 70 years. Leaving the tax thresholds frozen means every year more people pay more tax.
”Prices are still rising, rent and mortgage and rent payments are soaring, and the energy price cap is increasing by 5% in January, hitting us all with even higher bills at the coldest time of the year.
“The Chancellor also failed to include anything to help address the climate and nature crises. Once again showing the Conservatives are out of touch and out of ideas.”
Additional Information
Polling:
Polling methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,235 UK adults aged 18+ online between 10th and 13th November 2023. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region and social grade. Full details here.
Which of the following have you experienced in the last year? Base: All respondents who are currently working (n=1,305)
Unable to go to work as waiting for GP appointment | 19% |
Unable to go to work as waiting for emergency dental appointment | 12% |
Took a lengthy period off work whilst waiting for NHS treatment or surgery | 15% |
Don’t know | 4% |
None of these | 60% |
NET: Any | 36% |
Liberal Democrats are calling for an emergency funding boost for the NHS and social care including:
Office for Budget Responsibility’s analysis of the impact of frozen or reduced personal tax thresholds can be found here.