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22
Nov 2023
Autumn statement will boost business and pay in Harrogate and Knaresborough, says Andrew Jones MP
Andrew Jones MP has said today's autumn statement will "benefit businesses here in Harrogate and Knaresborough and boost the pay packets of tens of thousands locally".
However, the Liberal Democrat hoping to replace him at the next general election said Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's statement amounted to "empty promises and stale nonsense".
Mr Hunt's hour-long statement this afternoon included cutting the main rate of National Insurance contributions from 12 per cent to 10 per cent, increasing the state pension by 8.5% from April 2024 to £221.20 and a reduction in business rates.
But next year's economic growth forecast was downgraded from 1.8% to 0.7%.
Andrew Jones
Mr Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:
Tom Gordon
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough at the next election, accused the government of being "content with local health services crumbling" by failing to provide additional funding for local health services.
The party had called on the Chancellor to invest in a NHS rescue plan and inject £20 million into repairing crumbling concrete at Harrogate District Hospital.
Mr Gordon said:
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