Sajid Javid says his March 11 budget will focus on tax cuts for low-paid and billions of investment for ‘left behind’ areas in the North and Midlands
- Sajid Javid plans to tear up the Treasury rules blamed for focusing on South East
- Will be easier to focus on transport and business development outside region
- He will focus on tax cuts for the low-paid and investment for ‘left behind’ areas
- Javid said he would offer help to ‘hard-working’ people with the cost of living
Sajid Javid last night announced a Budget on March 11 that will focus on tax cuts for the low-paid and billions of investment for ‘left behind’ areas.
The Chancellor aims to tear up Treasury rules blamed for focusing too much investment in the South East.
New rules are set to make it easier to spend on transport, business development and free ports outside already prosperous areas.
Sajid Javid (pictured with Chief Operating Officer of Transport for Greater Manchester Bob Morris, on January 6) last night announced a Budget on March 11 that will focus on tax cuts for the low-paid and billions of investment for ‘left behind’ areas
Mr Javid said he would offer help for ‘hard-working people in particular, especially with the cost of living’.
A 30-year ‘national infrastructure plan’ will focus on the North and Midlands, where ex-Labour voters helped Boris Johnson to win last month’s election.
Projects will include a new high-speed rail line from Manchester to Leeds and £500 million to bring back branch lines axed during the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.
Speaking during a visit to the new £350 million Trafford Park tram line project in Manchester, Mr Javid said: ‘People across the country have told us that they want change. We’ve listened and will now deliver.
‘With this Budget we will unleash Britain’s potential – uniting our great country, opening a new chapter for our economy and ushering in a decade of renewal.’
Speaking during a visit to the new £350 million Trafford Park tram line project in Manchester, Mr Javid said: ‘People across the country have told us that they want change. We’ve listened and will now deliver’
A Treasury source added: ‘The election delivered a clear mandate to deliver on the agenda of levelling up opportunity in left behind parts of the country ‘That is about infrastructure and education, but also about changing the whole way we do economic policy in this country.’
Mr Javid will also establish a new ‘economic taskforce’ whose members will include experts on regional priorities.
Money will also be released to set Britain on track to meet the target of delivering on climate change commitments to cut the UK’s net carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. Early commitments are expected to include cash for a new fleet of electric buses.
However the focus of the first post-Brexit Budget will be a 10-year plan to deliver on the PM’s campaign pledge to ‘level up’ opportunity in parts of the country that feel neglected.