Congleton MP Sarah Russell has welcomed last week’s budget, saying it delivered investment in local infrastructure, support for families, and fairer taxation.
Speaking after chancellor Rachel Reeves’ statement, Ms Russell said: “My constituents may recall that I once began a speech with the words ‘Potholes, potholes, potholes.’ No one will be more delighted than the people of Congleton with the announcement that the road maintenance budget will be doubled over the course of this Parliament.”
She added that she would press ministers to ensure Congleton received its fair share of the funding.
“My roads are dark, fast, dangerous and poorly maintained, so I look forward to us bringing that money through progressively over time,” she said.
Ms Russell also highlighted measures to ease the cost of living. Families will receive £150 off energy bills, prescription charges will be frozen, and rail fares will be capped for the first time in 30 years.
“Work should pay,” she said, pointing to the rise in the minimum wage.
“Families working hard every day should be able to afford the things they need.”
Pensioners will see the triple lock maintained, with the average pensioner on the full state pension receiving an extra £575 next year. Nationally, three quarters of pensioners will remain eligible for the warm home discount.
On child poverty, Ms Russell said removing the two-child benefit cap would be “contentious” but would lift 1,310 children out of poverty locally.
She added that widening free school meal eligibility had given 2,000 extra children in the area a hot meal each day, she said.
She also drew attention to national figures showing 174,000 children living in temporary accommodation, 80 of whom died in that accommodation last year.
“We have to spend money on relieving poverty for our poorest children and households, because that is the only way these shameful figures will change,” she said.
“Our children are becoming shorter compared to their European counterparts because of malnourishment in our communities. There is a moral case to do this, and in all likelihood there will be savings from this investment as well.” On local infrastructure, Ms Russell said the budget was delivering major projects – already announced – including over £1 billion for rebuilding Leighton Hospital, £60 million for Sandbach School, £740,000 for improvements to Ashfield Medical Centre, and nearly £1.5 million across three local hospices following lobbying from her and other Labour MPs in Cheshire East.
She also welcomed permanent reductions in business rates for small independents, including pubs, restaurants and shops, and full reimbursement of training costs for apprenticeships at small and medium-sized enterprises.
“That is good for local young people and for businesses,” she said.
Ms Russell praised the British industry competitiveness scheme, which she said would help energy-intensive businesses such as Diamond Electronics in Smallwood and CLD Systems in Sandbach reduce costs and improve competitiveness. She encouraged local firms to take part in the consultation now open on how the scheme will operate.
She added that she was pleased to see a gambling tax included in the Budget.
“I have spoken to constituents who are really struggling with online gambling problems. That industry needs to pay for the problems it is creating,” she said.
She also backed the mansion tax, describing it as “the way to a fairer society.” Ms Russell concluded: “The budget has brought economic stability, fair taxes and high-quality public services. I am extremely proud of what it is delivering for my constituents.”
