Geraint Davies, Labour and Co-operative MP for Swansea West, attended the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in the House of Commons today.

Geraint Davies MP said:

“Across Wales the health service faces a £200million increase in energy costs as do our local authorities. So if wages for front line workers like nurses and teachers are to keep pace with inflation then the Chancellor hasn’t given Wales enough cash to avoid redundancies.”

Responding to the Chancellor’s statement Geraint, said:

“The chancellor boasted today that he will provide urgent help but plans for much to be paid back after 2024 by families after we elect a new government.

The richest like “non-doms” who make money in Britain but avoid it by having overseas status and bank accounts should help pay the bills as should the bankers but the conservatives are letting the richest off lightly.

Meanwhile, average earnings are less now than when the Tories came to office in 2010. Has the economic growth from the previous Labour Government continued, then average wages would be £10,000 higher!

We’ve had twelve years of budgets of empty promises of jam tomorrow. It’s time for a general election and a new Labour government to sort out the mess before things get even worse.”

Earlier on today Geraint Davies MP challenged Rishi Sunak on why the UK is still in the Energy Charter Treaty. Many European countries have left the treaty but the Prime Minister seems more concerned about saving oil companies profits than saving the planet and protecting the taxpayer.

Speaking in the Commons earlier on, Geraint asked “When does he [the Prime Minister] anticipate the UK withdrawing from the Energy Charter Treaty, or does he put fossil fuel profits ahead of climate change?”

During the Autumn Statement the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, revealed tax rises and spending cuts, as well as the UK Conservative Governments plans for Gas and Oil company profits.

“The chancellor has also given the oil giants the windfall tax back in exchange for drilling more oil and gas! UK taxpayers shouldn’t be sued by profit-hungry oil giants and these companies should pay back the Putin profits they are making from sky-high fuel prices. Shell alone has profited £1000 per UK household this year and the people who paid it need it for their cost-of-living crisis!”

Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in the House of Commons, said:

“What people will be asking themselves at the next general election is this: Am I and my family better off with the Tories And the answer is no.

The mess we are in is not just a result of 12 weeks of Conservative chaos, but 12 years of Conservative economic failure:
– Growth dismal
– Investment down
– Wages squeezed
– Public services crumbling.

And what does the Chancellor have to offer today? More of the same – with working people paying the price for his failure.”

For families across Swansea, Wales and the UK we can no longer afford a Conservative government.

Britain has so much potential but right now we’re facing a Tory economic crisis that’s holding us back. Labour has a long-term plan we need to get our economy growing again – powered by the talent and effort of millions of working people and thousands of businesses.

• With jobs across the country in renewables and insulating homes
• With a modern industrial strategy working hand in hand with business
• By fixing business rates so our high streets thrive again
• Putting skills at the heart of our plan for growth