Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, backs a number of the measures announced in the Autumn Statement.
THE MP, who has successfully campaigned for a new hospital in the constituency and for improvements to the A27, voiced his support for increased funding for the NHS and a £15 billion investment in road infrastructure.
He said: “As someone who has campaigned tirelessly for the new hospital here in Brighton, I was delighted at the announcement that an extra £2 billion a year is being made available for frontline NHS services.”
“The welcome investment in our road infrastructure will also make a real difference, and I am optimistic that the improvements to the A27 will help ease the burden on other roads in my constituency such as the A259.”
Other measures introduced included increased support for small and medium sizes enterprises (SMEs) through the extension of the Funding For Lending Scheme, guaranteeing up to £500 million of new bank lending to SMEs, and expanding the British Business Bank with an additional £400 million. The Government will also review business rates and look to create a modern system for a modern economy.
As a former businessman who started up his own company in Brighton, Simon say he knows just how important small businesses are for the local economy.
Business rates relief has been doubled for a further year, and inflation-linked increase in business rates capped at 2%. There will be a full review of the structure of business rates, and increase in rates discount to help our high street shops, pubs and cafes by 50% to £1,500 next year.
There was further positive economic news with the latest figures showing that the services industry in the UK – which accounts for a large part of the economy – grew stronger than expected in November, rising to 58.6 from 56.2 the month before (a reading above 50 indicates growth). Employment in the sector also continued to rise strongly.
The services industry accounts for roughly 78% of overall UK GDP, and about three-quarters of all jobs, thought many of them are low paid.
He continued: “The services industry is an important part of the local economy here in Brighton and so the strong growth in the sector is a big deal and is very good news.
“As a result of the difficult decisions that the Government has taken, the deficit has been cut by a half. Thanks to the hard work of the British people there are 2 million more private sector jobs and 750,000 more businesses. There is still much more to be done, but we must stick to the long term economic plan that’s securing a better future for our economy, for our country and for hardworking taxpayers. We can’t risk it all by going back to Labour’s failed ideas of the past.”
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