Cherwell Citizen’s Advice warn: ‘more people could fall into poverty’
It’s as the Autumn budget will be next Wednesday, 30 October
As the Autumn Budget is fast approaching, Citizens Advice in Cherwell are warning that ‘more people could fall into poverty’ and that we should brace ourselves to ‘get through the next few years without seeing significant improvement’.
The budget is an annual statement made by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, to the House of Commons. It updates the Commons on the state of the economy, and at times, announces tax and spending decisions.
‘People will have to get through few the next few years, rather than few months’
Pat Coomber-Wood is the CEO of Citizens Advice for West Northants and Cherwell, she said: “Whilst we absolutely appreciate that the government has got to look at the budget and manage the finances of the country effectively, we have to be really careful that in doing so that we’re not putting people who are already struggling into even greater hardship.
“Every indication at the moment is that more and more people are going to fall into poverty and find themselves less able to manage financially, because at this moment in time the government are saying this is going to take some time for us to turn around.
“I think that people are constantly hoping that things will get better in the next few months, but the reality is that we’re probably looking at people having to get through the next few years rather than few months of not seeing significant improvement in their situation.”
For anyone struggling financially, Citizens Advice can offer their services to provide help and support. Ms Coomber-Wood said: “We want to really try and catch people early on. So, don’t get to the point where you recognise there’s a problem and don’t do anything about it and you can see what’s going out is starting to be more than what’s coming in and rely on credit cards to pay food or bills. That’s more detrimental in the long-term and it’s far better at the point of what’s going out is too close to what’s coming in.”
The Cabinet is united on spending plans
Rachel Reeves has insisted the Cabinet is united on the Government's spending plans, amid reports of arguments over the upcoming Budget.
The Chancellor was reportedly locked in negotiations with some ministers until last week as she sought £40 billion of tax rises and spending cuts ahead of the announcement on October 30.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Reeves said the final settlements had been confirmed but acknowledged it had been "right for all Cabinet members to want to get the best settlement for their departments".
She added that settling departmental budgets was "an important achievement and shows the determination of this Government to get a grip of the public finances, and shows that we are as one, united in fixing the mess that the Conservatives left for us".