Sharon Hodgson MP has reacted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement delivered to the House of Commons on 25.11.15

"Cuts to tax credits should never have been brought forward in the first place, but I am pleased that the pressures applied by the Labour Party and the ordinary working people of this country have paid off. The Chancellor has proved time and again that his plans simply don’t work, so it is good to see this one being reversed before it devastated the incomes of almost 6000 working families in my constituency. The real test, however, will be making sure these announcements are not simply more smoke and mirror tricks from this Chancellor, and that people do not lose out just as badly when they are eventually transferred to Universal Credit.  

"Our campaign to secure continued funding for universal infant free school meals was also successful, with the Chancellor announcing it will not be cut. This is hugely welcomed, however I will be making sure that the Government sticks to and builds upon this policy, which does so much good for children up and down the country.

"On so many other areas, sadly, things are not so hopeful. More damaging cuts to essential services will continue to hurt the most vulnerable in our society, and with the Chancellor missing target after target nobody can be confident that his ideological austerity policies will even do what he plans.

"We need a balanced economy, built on investment, not on constant cuts, and a Chancellor who understands the needs of working people, which this one simply does not."