Local Conservative MPs break promise to people of the Black Country over unfair tax hike 

Dudley, Stourbridge, and Halesowen Liberal Democrats have slammed local Conservative MP's choice to break their promise to the electorate and vote for a 1.25% rise in National Insurance.

The changes, which go against the Conservatives' manifesto promise not to raise taxes, will mean hard-pressed local families and small businesses will be left paying hundreds of pounds more in tax each year.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris, and his colleague in Stourbridge Suzzanne Webb joined with another 316 Conservative MPs to support the plans. Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the government plans, arguing that they fail to fix the ongoing social care crisis and will fall disproportionately on the young, the low paid and small businesses.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a cross-party agreement on social care, to find a long-term solution to funding high-quality care for everyone who needs it in a fair and progressive way.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Cradley and Wollescote Ryan Priest said:

"Our Conservative MP's stood on a clear promise at the last election not to raise taxes, including National Insurance. Now they have voted to break that promise by hitting hard-pressed families and small businesses across the Black Country with a tax hike at a time many are still reeling from the impact of the pandemic.

"The people of Halesowen, of Stourbridge, of the entire Dudley Borough and beyond deserve far better than this. They need an MP who they can trust and who will fight for a fairer deal for our area.

"Unlike James Morris and Suzzane Webb, the Liberal Democrats opposed these unjust plans in Parliament. We have been clear about how to fix the social care crisis in a fair and progressive way, instead of hiking taxes on those who can least afford it."

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP added:

"The Tories have gone from being the party of low tax to the party of broken promises. This is a punishing tax hike that will hit working families, the low paid and small businesses who are already reeling from the pandemic.

"Conservative MPs have shown that they can't be trusted and are taking people for granted. It's little wonder that voters around the country and across the Blue Wall are turning to the Liberal Democrats instead.

"We want to see cross-party talks on how to fund social care in a fair and sustainable way, along with urgent action to fix the staffing crisis in care homes and give unpaid carers the recognition they deserve."