Council Leader slams Conservative budget proposals

City of York Council Leader has voiced significant concern at the proposals set out by the new Chancellor, branding it a budget ‘for big business and bankers’, during a devastating cost of living crisis.

Commenting on the mini-budget, Council Leader Keith Aspden said: 

“From £50bn of unfunded tax cuts and deregulation of the planning system, to increased bonuses for bank executives - this is a budget for big business and bankers. The Chancellor’s focus on deregulation at a time when so many people are struggling financially is simply the wrong priority at the wrong time.

“It’s extraordinary to see the same party in government repudiating its own policies – particularly in abandoning levelling up, which only received a passing mention in the Chancellor’s statement once, and seemingly forgot about the new PM’s promises to fund social care.

“Facilitating economic growth is clearly important, but today the Chancellor wasted an opportunity to provide reassurance and support to those who need it the most. A real growth policy would have levelling up at its core, with a focus on investment in education and skills, net zero and sustainable funding of public services. Today’s announcement is an expensive gift to bankers and developers, with the bill to be picked up by working people and generations to come.”