Autumn Statement RECAP: Jeremy Hunt budget leaves working people worse off says Labour

Thank you for following!

The Mirror's live blog has now come to a close.

We'll have plenty more reaction as the fall out to the Autumn Statement continues.

Keep an eye on Mirror.co.uk tonight for the very latest.

Lib Dems claim Autumn Statement 'deception' that 'won't touch the sides'

The Liberal Democrats have described today's announcements as 'deception'

Jeremy Hunt's pleges won't 'touch the sides' according to Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney, who says the damage has already been done.

She said: "Conservative chaos has sent mortgages and tax bills soaring, today’s announcements won’t even touch the sides."

"These dismal forecasts show the economy is on life support and reducing NHS waiting lists is the shot in the arm needed.

"It is a no-brainer that we need people off waiting lists and back to work, yet this Conservative government simply doesn't care."

Statement slammed over funding failure for key services

The Chairman of the Local Government Association says the Autumn statement has failed to protect some key community services.

Cllr Shaun Davies said: “The evidence of the financial strain on councils has been growing and it is hugely disappointing that today's Autumn Statement has failed to provide funding needed to protect the services the people in our communities rely on every day.

“We are pleased government has acted on our call to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance rates, which is a positive step in helping to support the most vulnerable in our society afford rising rents. It is also good that the Government has committed to ensuring councils will be able to set planning fees to cover the full cost of processing some major applications which will mean local taxpayers no longer have to foot the bill.

“Supporting businesses, and easing the cost of living for households is important, but not if our public services continue to be chronically underfunded and unable to be there to support people when they need them. Adult social care remains in a precarious position, record numbers of households are in temporary accommodation and there are now more than 80,000 looked after children in England. The lack of additional funding in today’s announcement risks councils' ability to meet this spiralling demand, provide critical care and support a healthy population with access to housing, training and jobs."

'What the Autumn Statement really means for you'

Financial journalist and broadcaster Martin Lewis has broken-down this afternoon's Autumn Statement.

The Money Saving expert has dissected the changes made today in the Commons - and pin-pointed what it means for you.

Jeremy Hunt once spent £44,000 of tax-payer cash on new toilet

As he dishes out orders to struggling Brits, it didn't escape everyone's attention that Jeremy Hunt once splashed out £44,000 of taxpayer cash on a toilet.

He was previously questioned about the massive expenditure for his private bathroom in 2017, which included and shower for his penthouse office.

The politician, 57, had asked for the suite so he could freshen up after cycling to work when travelling to the £25million Health Ministry headquarters in central London's Victoria.

However, his reasoning caused confusion because the office already had showers for staff in the basement near the bike racks.

In addition, it had a lighting system which was wired with sensors so they would automatically switch on when he walked in. Despite claims Mr Hunt demanded the new bathroom for his own use, the then-health secretary soon took to Twitter to set the record straight, as he saw it.

He wrote: "TRUE I requested shower for long dist cyclists in new Dept Health offices (as in current office) [sic]. FALSE it was for my own use. My cycle 2work only 10 mins so no need 2 'freshen up' as story elegantly says. But let's encourage cyclists! [sic]"

Here's the full story.

Disabled are being 'degrading' by Tory's Fit To Work scheme

A disabled woman on benefits says the rise in line with inflation is "not enough" and has called for a change to "degrading" fit to work assessments.

The government today announced in its autumn budget that benefits would rise with inflation, currently standing at 6.7%.

It also said some welfare recipients will be made to undertake a mandatory work placement if they are still looking for a job after 18 months.

Michelle Maher, 59, struggles with neurological issues, which impacts her breathing, and causes severe tremors, while her mobility is severely restricted.

She was forced to leave her job as a civil servant almost 20 years ago, when her symptoms became so severe she could no longer work, and was forced into early retirement.

She claims Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), amounting to £275.50 a week.

Michelle, from Brighton, said: "Especially as legacy benefits are not getting any other help, I'm glad they're not cutting it but the cost of living crisis is still making things very hard. Michelle is still on "legacy benefits" - yet to be transferred onto the universal credit - but once she does, she claims she will be receiving "much less."

Tax freeze impact explained

Living standards drop 'could be biggest since 50s'

The Office for Budget Responsibility has warned that living standards could be lower in 2024/25 than before the pandemic.

If that proves to be the case, it represents "the largest reduction in real living standards since records began in the 1950s".

They say living standard - as measured by real household disposable income per person - could be 3.5% down on 2020.

The OBR believe disposable income is expected to return to its pre-Covid level by 2028.

It said today that the economy "has proved to be more resilient to the shocks of the pandemic and energy crisis than anticipated" but the UK should now "expect the economy to grow more slowly over the forecast period".

Budget is a 'deception from Jeremy Hunt' says Lib Dem treasury spokesperson

The Lib Dems' Treasury spokesperson, Sarah Olney, has slammed the Autumn Statement as a "deception from Jeremy Hunt after years of cruel tax hikes on hard-working families".

Olney said: "Conservative chaos has sent mortgages and tax bills soaring, today’s announcements won’t even touch the sides."

She added: "These dismal forecasts show the economy is on life support and reducing NHS waiting lists is the shot in the arm needed. It is a no-brainer that we need people off waiting lists and back to work, yet this Conservative government simply doesn't care."

Labour: 'Average wages for working people have been held back'

Rachel Reeves described plans to make full expensing permanent as another thing that Labour "have been calling for".

She added: "That doesn't make up for the years of uncertainty that businesses have faced with taxes going up and down like a yo-yo, with small and medium businesses who play such a pivotal role in growing our economy left exposed to the Tories' economic volatility."

The Shdaoew Chancellor welcomed the rise in the national living wage to £11.44 an hour, but added: "The reality is - of the Conservatives' record - that average wages for working people have been held back.

"Under this Government real average weekly wages have increased by just 3% in 13 years, compared to a 27% increase under the last Labour government, worth an additional £120 more every week for someone going out to work every day."

We're still paying for Tory recklessness: Shadow Chancellor

British people are still paying the price for the Conservatives' "economic recklessness" following last year's mini-budget, Labour said.

Speaking in the Commons, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "Just last year we saw the true cost of the Conservatives, when their kamikaze budget crashed the economy leading to market turmoil, pensions put in peril and a spike in interest rates.

"1.6 million families will see their mortgage deals end this year, those remortgaging since July have seen their payments rocket by an average of £220-a-month and next year one-and-a-half million families will face a similar fate.

"The Conservatives' economic recklessness inflicted a Tory mortgage penalty on families across the country."

She added: "This Tory economic recklessness is not a theme of the past, the British people are still paying the price and we say never again."

'View looks good from Prime Minister's helicopter'

Working families have been "skating on thin ice for too long", Labour have said.

Speaking in the Commons, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "The Chancellor and the Prime Minister say that the cost of living crisis is dealt with, now everything might look a little bit better 10,000 feet up in your helicopter, but down here on planet Earth people are approaching Christmas and the year ahead with worry and trepidation.

"The cost-of-living crisis has hit us harder because Tory mismanagement has left us so exposed, 11 million UK households don't have enough savings to cover three weeks of living expenses if they needed it.

"Working families have been skating on thin ice for too long and as their resilience has been eroded, so has our national economy's."

Office for Budget Responsibility react to Autumn Statement

Alcohol industry calls tax freeze 'huge relief'

The Alcohol industry has welcomed the Chancellor's decision to freeze all booze duty until next year.

UK Spirits Alliance spokesman Stephen Russell said: "We raise a toast to the chancellor today for his decision to freeze duty and thank him for listening to thousands of distillers, landlords and bar owners up and down the UK."

He went on to say that the decision is a "vote of confidence"that will "drive growth in the industry, support jobs and help consumers".

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association chief executive Miles Beale said the decision to freeze duty is "a huge relief to wine and spirit businesses and the hospitality sector who have taken a battering over the last few years".

Martin Lewis perplexed by ISA failure

Reeves: NHS still using fax machines

Rachel Reeves claims the dozens of NHS hospitals are still using fax machines.

The Shadow Chancellor says the perfectly symbolises the government's attitude towards the health service.

She says 26 NHS trusts are still using the old-fashioned machines as well as outdated and potentially dangerous softwear.

"Why would they trust them to fix it?" she said. "You can never trust the Tories with the NHS."

Rachel Reeves: PM is 'arguing against himself' says Rachel Reeves

The Prime Minister is "arguing against himself" on national insurance, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Commons.

Addressing the cut in the headline rate of national insurance, she said: "I'm old enough to remember when the Prime Minister wanted to put up national insurance. As recently as January last year, he said and I quote, 'we must go ahead with the increase in the health and care levy, it is progressive in that the burden falls most on those who can most afford it'.

"Utter nonsense. It was a tax on working people and we opposed it for that very reason. Yet again, the Prime Minister is left arguing against himself."

Taxes at the next will be higher when the next election rolls around, says Labour

Taxes will be higher at the next election than they were at the last, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has said.

She told the Commons that she has "long argued that taxes on working people are too high". From their failure to uprate income tax or national insurance bands, to forcing councils to raise council tax, the Conservatives have pushed the costs of their failure onto others.

"But the British people won't be taken for fools. They know that what has been announced today owes more to the cynicism of a party desperate to cling onto power than the real priorities of this high-tax, low-growth Conservative Government. So I think we can forgive taxpayers for not celebrating when they see the truth behind today's announcements.

"Going into this statement the Government had already put in place tax increases worth the equivalent of a 10p increase in national insurance."

NI cut 'will not compensate' other tax increases, says Labour

In her reaction, Rachel Reeves has delivered a scathing critique of Mr Hunt's statement - including the cut of National Insurance form 12% to 10%.

She said: “Today’s 2% cut will not remotely compensate for the tax increases already put in place by this Conservative Government.

“The fact is that taxes will be higher at the next election than they were at the last. This is the legacy of the Conservatives and that is their record.”

'Threatening people won’t help anyone'

Working people are 'worse off' says Shadow Chancellor

Working people are "worse off" despite the Government's promises, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Commons.
After describing the "damage" caused by the Conservatives, she said: "Nothing that has been announced today will remotely compensate.

"Mortgages rising, taxing eating into wages. Inflation high, with prices still going up in the shops. Public services on their knees. And too many families struggling to make ends meet.

"As the sun begins to set on this divided, out-of-touch, weak Government, the only conclusion that the British people will reach is this: after 13 years of Conservatives the economy is simply not working, and despite all the promises today, working people are still worse off."

Rachel Reeves: We're on our knees

The Shadow Chancellor says nothing can compensate for the mess the country finds itself in.

Rachel Reeves said: "As the sun begins to set on this divided, out of touch and weak government - it is clear the economy is simply not working.

"Despite all the promises today, working people are still worse off."

Labour says sun is setting on 'weak' Government

Rachel Reeves added: “As the sun begins to set on this divided, out of touch, weak government, the only conclusion that the Britsh people will reach is this: After 13 years of Conservatives the economy is simply not working and despite all the promises today, working people are still worse off.”

"What has been laid bare today is the full scale of the damage that this Government has done to our economy over 13 years."

Rachel Reeves says Tory party 'is the problem and not the solution'

Rachel Reeves says the Tory Government has "failed on growth, failed on debt and failed on levelling up".

"It is them that is the problem and not the solution", the Shadow Chancellor

Rachel Reeves says today's move does not make up for 13 years of failure

Rachel Reeves says the British public will not be taken for fools.

The Shadow Chancellor said: "Today he has lifted the lid of 13 years of failure. The enonomy is now forecast to be £40 billion smaller by 2027 than when he said in March.

"He claims the economy has turned a corner. But this is the full stage of the damage done."

"This is the legacy of the Conservatives - the British public will not be taken for fools."

Rachel Reeves: Growth 'has hit a dead end'

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said that growth had "hit a dead end" under the Tories.

She added Jeremy Hunt's autumn statement had "lifted the lid on 13 years of Conservative failure".

'A country that has turned a corner': Chancellor concludes Autumn statement speech

Mr Hunt has now concluded his address in the House of Commons.

The Chancellor said: “This Autumn Statement for Growth will attract £20bn more business investment a year in the next decade, bring tens of thousands more people into work and support our fastest growing industries.

“In a package which leaves borrowing lower, debt lower, and keeps inflation falling, we are delivering the biggest business tax cut in modern British history, the largest ever cut to employee and self-employed National Insurance and the biggest package of tax cuts to be implemented since the 1980s.

“An Autumn Statement for a country that has turned a corner. An Autumn Statement for growth, which I commend to the House.”

'Largest business tax cut in British history' says Hunt

Mr Hunt has now confirmed he would make full expensing permanent, describing it as the "largest business tax cut in modern British history".

Jeremy Hunt told the Commons: "It means we have not just the lowest headline corporation tax rate in the G7 but its most generous capital allowances."

He said the reform had been estimated to cost £11 billion a year, and stressed he had only brought it forward now it was "affordable".

Mr Hunt claimed the tax change was "a huge boost to British competitiveness", having told MPs: "The OBR say it will increase annual investment by around £3 billion a year and a total of £14 billion over the forecast period. We on this side of the House know that the way to back British business is not to borrow more or subsidise more but increase the incentives to invest."

The Chancellor went on to claim that measures throughout the autumn statement taken together would help to "increase business investment in the UK economy by around £20bn a year within a decade".

Hunt commits to cutting average workers' National Insurance by 2%

Millions of workers will be able to keep more of their hard-earned cash after the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a National Insurance cut in his Autumn Statement today.

The Chancellor confirmed the main rate of National Insurance will fall from 12% to 10% from January 6 next year, in a move that will benefit around 27 million employees.

National Insurance is a tax on your earnings, which you start to pay when you earn above a certain threshold.

Mr Hunt says he will rush through emergency legislation next week.

Hunt will stop benefits of those who don't want to work

Jeremy Hunt vowed to incentivise work - and halt benefits for those who don't want to.

Announcing measure for the long-term unemployed and for those who do not work due to illness or disability, he spoke about the back to work plan.

He says the system will be change to assume that people can work.

He said: "If after 18 months of help, there will be mandatory work experience. And if people do not participate, the government will close the case and stop their benefits."