Phil Bennion - Budget: 220,000 low earners lifted out of income tax is boost for West Midlands region

Details: Published: 20 March 2013

Lib Dem MEP Phil Bennion has hailed budget news that another 220,000 people will be taken out of income tax and changes to help business as a much needed boost for our region.

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Phil Bennion said: "There is a clear Lib Dem stamp on this budget - help for business and tax cuts for the low paid.

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style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">”Raising the income tax allowance was a policy I championed for years on the party’s policy committee. It is good news that Vince Cable and Nick Clegg pushed for this to be made a priority and now our top manifesto pledge will be delivered a year earlier than planned.

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style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">“2 million of my constituents in the West Midlands region will get a £700 tax cut compared to 2010 when Labour were in power. Those on low pay are getting the benefit with 220,000 people taken out of tax altogether."

style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">“224,948 families in the West Midlands region could benefit from tax free childcare and 70,000 businesses will benefit from the changes to National Insurance, creating and preserving jobs. style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">“A typical motorist will save £7 per tank of petrol compared to Labour’s plans and I am working in the EU to increase those savings by making sure new cars use less fuel. style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">“I also welcome the good news for the 4,972 community pubs in this region set to benefit from the cut in beer duty. style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">“The Liberal Democrats are trying to build a stronger economy and a fairer society and this budget shows our influence in the coalition government.” style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">The MEP also welcomed news that the climate change levy will not apply to the ceramics industry. The move follows heavy cross party lobbying in recent weeks including a meeting between Phil and Vince Cable's advisors at the Business Department in London last Friday. style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Phil Bennion added: "This budget recognises the unique position of ceramics manufacturers whose kilns inescapably use a lot of energy. Instead of encouraging greener manufacturing processes, which is the intention behind the climate change levy, the effect would have been to drive ceramics manufacture out of Britain and the EU entirely without any carbon reduction. I am glad the government has listened to our case and acted to safeguard thousands of jobs." style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">ENDS style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Notes: Impact of the Budget in the West Midlands Region and local council areas within it style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Stronger Economy: style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">National Insurance: £2,000 Employment Allowance – The Coalition will introduce an allowance of £2000 per year for all businesses and charities to be offset against their employer NICs bill from April 2014. Employers will be able to hire one extra person on £22,400 a year, or four people working full time on the minimum wage, without paying any National Insurance.It means 450,000 small businesses, one third of all employers, will pay no jobs tax at all. style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Effect in West MIdlands: 70,000 businesses will benefit, with 35,000 of these taken out of employer NICs altogether. style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Pubs in this region benefiting from the beer duty cut · 4,972 style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Fairer Society: style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Income Tax changes style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">· People lifted out of Income Tax from April 2014: 220,000 in the West Midlands region style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">· People getting a £700 tax cut compared to 2010: 2.0m style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Area: Removed from Tax: Tax cut:

style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Tax Free Childcare The Coalition will provide £750m a year to help support working families with 20 per cent of childcare costs, for children under 12, up to a limit of £6,000 (in total cost) for each child per year

Approximate number of eligible families in the West Midlands: 224,948

style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Fuel duty style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">· Number of vehicles benefiting from fuel duty freeze: 3.5m style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">· Typical motorist will save at least £7 per tank compared to Labour’s plans

A local champion for the West Midlands in Europe

Budget: 220,000 low earners lifted out of income tax is boost for West Midlands region

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style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">West Midlands	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">220,000	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">2,030,000
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Herefordshire, County of UA	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">8,270	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">66,000
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Stoke-on-Trent UA	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">10,760	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">91,900
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Telford and Wrekin UA	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">9,750	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">71,600
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Shropshire UA	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">14,550	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">111,500
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Staffordshire	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">33,600	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">337,000
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Cannock Chase	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">3,950	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">35,400
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> East Staffordshire	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">5,390	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">47,600
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Lichfield	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">3,260	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">39,200
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Newcastle-under-Lyme	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">5,360	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">51,500
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> South Staffordshire	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">4,590	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">45,900
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Stafford	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">4,220	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">48,200
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Staffordshire Moorlands	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">3,700	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">38,300
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Tamworth	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">3,140	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">31,000
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Warwickshire	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">22,050	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">227,700
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> North Warwickshire	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">2,480	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">25,200
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Nuneaton and Bedworth	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">5,540	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">52,500
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Rugby	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">3,940	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">44,300
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Stratford-on-Avon	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">4,720	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">47,100
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Warwick	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">5,360	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">58,700
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">West Midlands MC	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">95,720	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">903,300
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Birmingham	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">30,750	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">311,000
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Coventry	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">11,800	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">118,600
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Dudley	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">13,960	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">128,400
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Sandwell	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">11,530	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">99,600
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Solihull	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">7,950	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">75,800
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Walsall	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">10,470	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">88,800
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Wolverhampton	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">9,260	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">81,000
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">Worcestershire	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">25,320	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">220,900
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Bromsgrove	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">4,210	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">41,400
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Malvern Hills	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">2,690	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">21,900
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Redditch	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">5,410	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">35,300
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Worcester	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">3,790	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">44,800
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Wychavon	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">4,330	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">45,400
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal"> Wyre Forest	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">4,990	style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;" class="yiv588198975MsoNormal">32,100