Graham has been forthright in his opposition to Rachel Reeves and her jobs tax, the hike in National Insurance contributions for employers which leaves businesses facing tough decisions to meet the cost of maintaining payroll.
Graham asked the Chancellor about Johnsons of Hedon, which is closing after 56 years of trading this summer. Graham visited the venerable store earlier this month and was moved by Mike Brooke’s account of the end of the business.
Rachel Reeves chose not to answer the question, instead asserting that her Jobs Tax will fund the NHS.
Graham is making sure the government is fully aware of the impact of their decisions, particularly those made in October’s Budget, on the people of Beverley and Holderness.
He’s stood up for pubs, which are facing hikes in Employer National Insurance Contributions, a part-time jobs tax, minimum wage increases and having hospitality rates hiked.
He’s stood up for people buying property as Labour’s Stamp Duty hike means somebody buying a £290,000 house (the average in Beverley) will have to find an extra £2,500 to pay the new £4,500 charge.
He’s led the charge for farmers, with one of his speeches on the topic having been seen by over 11,000 people on YouTube alone.
And he’s been at the heart of opposition to the cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment, which left over 23,000 pensioners in Beverley and Holderness £300 worse off this winter.
Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, said, “It’s frustrating when the government doesn’t listen – and on the subject of Employee National Insurance Contributions, the Chancellor is robotically putting her fingers in her ears as jobs are lost and businesses are closing.
“We can’t go on like this. The problems this country is facing – rising energy costs, higher taxes, low growth and a sense that groups like pensioners are being picked on – are because of Rachel Reeves’ budget.
“Rachel Reeves lives life in a spreadsheet and doesn’t see the hardship her choices are causing. She won’t listen to economists, she won’t listen to MPs, she won’t listen to ordinary working people and she certainly won’t listen to reason.
“She needs to go.”
