SOUTH YORKSHIRE’S MAYOR RESPONDS TO THE SPRING BUDGET

Published 6 March 2024 at 4:18pm

In response to the Chancellor’s Spring Budget today (Wednesday 6 March), South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: 

“Last week, alongside Mayors from across the country I wrote to the government and asked them to change their approach and protect the Household Support Fund. I’m glad that today the Chancellor has listened, albeit only guaranteeing that support for another six months. That’s a sticking plaster not a long-term cure.

“Listening to the Chancellor you wouldn’t think families are struggling across South Yorkshire, or that local government is on its knees. £8 a week back in people’s pockets is not going to fix the system wide problems we face here, or as a country.

“The long-term solution has to be good growth; that’s our plan. But under this government, the economy has experienced the longest decline since records began. Growth per person has now fallen continuously for two years.”