The Budget and What it Means for Salford

Earlier in the month, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, made some big announcements in the Budget. I’ve summarised some key points on what it means for Salford:

• Thousands of people in Salford are set to receive a 6.7% pay rise while apprentices and young people could see their wages increase by 16.3%.

• Extending the Household Support Fund again, which has already provided £2,733,899.11 to help households struggling to make ends meet in Salford this autumn and winter.

• Pensioners in Salford will see their state pension increase by more than £400 this year and around £1,700 over the course of this Parliament thanks to Labour’s commitment to the pensions triple lock.

• Carers in Salford will get the biggest ever cash boost to the amount they can earn while receiving Carer’s Allowance – an extra £45 a week.

• The Fair Repayment Rate will put £420 a year on average back in the pockets of Salford households – helping thousands out of poverty.

• A 10-year plan for the NHS will be published in the spring. A £22.6 billion increase in the day-to-day health budget for our NHS is welcome and will provide the largest real-terms growth in day-to-day NHS spending outside of Covid since 2010.

• A £1bn investment for cladding removal and £5bn to deliver plans on housing, increase in affordable homes programme, and provide stability to social housing providers with a social housing rent settlement of CPI plus 1% for the next five years.

• On the bus fare cap in England, single bus fares in Salford and across Greater Manchester will continue to cost £2 for the whole of 2025.

Plans to Close Crown Post Offices

I have written to Government Ministers asking them to intervene and call a halt to plans which could see Salford City’s post office close. The branch at Salford’s precinct is among more than 100 across the UK at risk of closure. Salford City’s Post Office is an essential part of our local economy and is relied upon by local residents and businesses, and those who collect their pensions and benefits. Salford’s Post Office has good access arrangements in a prominent position, with well-trained staff who have a wealth of experience between them. For them to receive this news before Christmas is a kick in the teeth. You can read my letter to Ministers in full here.

Local Housing Allowance freeze

The previous Tory Government’s Local Housing Allowance freeze will push 80,000 private renters on housing benefit, including 30,000 children, into deep poverty according to recent research carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. In Parliament, I asked the Chancellor to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance and to re-link it to actual local rents so families can make ends meet. Watch here.

Prison Overcrowding

As the Government outlined its emergency plans to ease prison overcrowding, I asked Ministers to confirm who would be running Forest Bank Prison when the current contract ends next year and what urgent measures to ensure safety and rehabilitative training will be put in place. Watch my question in Parliament here.

Britain’s Nuclear Bomb Scandal

The BBC recently broadcast a powerful documentary about what our British Nuclear Test veterans and residents from the Pacific islands went through as we developed Britain’s first nuclear weapons, and what they are still going through today. I have long supported our Nuclear Veterans and it’s been an absolute honour to get to know many veterans and supporters over the years campaigning, but even though I know their stories well, this was still painful because they are still waiting for proper recognition. That must change. You can watch the documentary now on BBC iPlayer by clicking here.

Prior to the broadcast, I spoke in Parliament urging Ministers to investigate recent media reports that historic civil servants gave factually incorrect and incomplete information in court statements about medical monitoring of nuclear veterans. You can watch this here. I also asked the Prime Minister to meet with veterans to discuss the next steps in recognition and justice. Watch here.

Remembrance Sunday

On Remembrance Sunday we came together in Salford to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We will remember them. Thank you to all who took part in and attended the moving ceremony.

Life Insurance and diagnosis of terminal illness clause

I tabled a Parliamentary motion calling on the Government to speak to the insurance industry and carry out a form of inquiry following reports of people falling foul of insurance small print, which states the terminally ill can only make a claim for an early life insurance payment if they have 18 months or more left on their policy.

Salford resident Shaun Pinkney was diagnosed with terminal cancer two months before his policy was due to expire but was refused his claim as his policy stated that terminal illness diagnosis must take place at least 18 months prior to the policy expiration date. Aviva would not renew his policy because he had terminal cancer, yet they have ceased selling policies where there was a discrepancy between the end of the major benefit and the termination of the rest of the policy. You can read the motion in full here.

City of Trees

I was pleased to meet with Bryan and Aimee from City of Trees at the David Lewis Sports Ground, one of seven woodland sites planted in Salford since 2020. It was great to see saplings taking root and to talk about the brilliant work City of Trees do by creating better, greener places which boosts our health and wellbeing and helps tackle the climate emergency. Give them a follow and find out how you can get involved.

The Turing Scheme

Congratulations to the University of Salford and Salford City College on receiving Turing Scheme funding this year. The scheme is the UK Government’s global programme for students to study and do work placements abroad to develop new skills, gain international experience and boost their employability.

For the 2024/25 academic year, education providers and other eligible organisations from across the UK have been allocated over £105million to send more than 43,000 students on study and work placements across the globe. Around 23,000 (53%) of these opportunities will be for participants from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Creative Corridors

It was great to attend the Royal Society of Art’s Creative Corridors report launch at The Lowry. The report shows how we can interconnect our brilliant creative sectors across regions to unleash their potential, create new industry and jobs, and ensure all of our communities can access the benefits of creativity and culture. Read the full report here and watch the full discussion here.

LGC Workforce Awards

Congratulations to everyone at Salford City Council for winning the ‘Best Place to Work’ at the LGC Workforce Awards. This is fantastic news and thoroughly well deserved!

UK Parliament Week

UK Parliament Week commenced on the 18th of November and as part of that programme, I’ll be visiting several places in Salford to talk about the work of an MP, how Parliament works and help take action and make an impact on the issues you care about. Watch this space for more updates.