The chief executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has described today’s Budget statement as providing “little comfort for those on the lowest incomes.”
Speaking after the Jeremy Hunt’s statement to MPs earlier today, Lee Bloomfield said: “Shortly after the Chancellor sat down, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility announced that living standards are expected to drop by 6 per cent in the current financial year and next – the largest fall since records began in the 1950s.
Lee Bloomfield, Manningham Housing Association chief executive
“With inflation predicted to stay relatively high by modern standards for the rest of this year and with personal taxation allowances not going up in April, this Budget provides little comfort for those on the lowest incomes.
“After the disastrous Budget last autumn, Jeremy Hunt had little money left to give away.
“However, it is notable that the only permanent tax cut he announced - costing £1 billion a year - was scrapping the lifetime allowance on tax-free pension contributions which only helps those on very high incomes.
“The extension of the freeze on energy bills for another three months is welcome but bills will not come down despite the wholesale gas price falling significantly.
“There was little on levelling up, nothing on building more affordable homes and, other than floating the idea of creating an investment zone in West Yorkshire, no new funds for Bradford despite previous promises of help, particularly around transport infrastructure.
“It is difficult to see what there was to cheer for the communities Manningham Housing Association is proud to serve.”