Economic issues this decade has seen lower economic growth and higher inflation across the world, but political opportunists from other parties continue to talk our country down and not paint a fair picture of what’s happening.
Henry Smith MP has welcomed confirmation that the Department for Transport – following a meeting with the Secretary of State, Mark Harper – has decided that Rail Delivery Group proposals to close train station ticket offices and move staff to station platforms, concourses and ticket halls do not meet the high thresholds set by Government: and therefore, in a boost to local rail passengers, should not go ahead.
It has been one year since Rishi Sunak became prime minister. Coming in on the back of the short-lived Liz Truss shambles was always going to be challenging, but he has performed incredibly well and restored competence to government.
· As global inflation driven by Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to put pressure on households, the Government is delivering its £94 billion cost of living support package to help vulnerable and low-income families across the country.
· This is why, as part of this record support, eight million low-income households will receive the second Cost of Living Payment worth £300 from 31st October 2023, with payments totalling £900 through 2023-24, helping to protect the most vulnerable people from rising prices.
· The Government is working to deliver on the Prime Minister’s priority to halve inflation this year, while providing targeted cost of living support in the meantime.
Henry Smith MP is leading 66 parliamentarians in an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling on the Government to enact the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto commitment to ban trophy hunting imports.
Henry Smith MP has welcomed the successful outcome of the campaign to save the Day Travelcard which he led for Crawley passengers. Yesterday (Tuesday, 24th October) the Mayor of London finally confirmed that he will not go ahead with his earlier proposals to scrap the Day Travelcard, which allows passengers to take journeys across overground and underground trains as well as buses into and around London on one ticket.
I am very pleased to see that anti-social behaviour within Crawley has been recorded as dropping by almost 15%. Alongside this, Sussex Police have also seen a reduction in reports of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls within the borough.
Henry Smith MP has reiterated his support for legislation to ban live exports from Great Britain for slaughter or fattening, ban the import of puppies and kittens under six months, along with other restrictions such as the import of dogs with cropped ears and making dog abduction a specific offence, at a parliamentary event (on Wednesday, 18th October).
· The Government has consistently supported families in the face of global high inflation through the £94 billion cost of living support package including 26 million payments through the Household Support Fund.
· That is why the Government has launched Household Support Fund Awareness Week this week to raise awareness of support provided to local authorities to help low income households with the cost of living.
· The Government is taking the long-term decisions to deliver on the Prime Minister’s priority to halve inflation, while also providing support for vulnerable households.