Bosworth's Tory MP breaks promise to people of Hinckley and Bosworth over unfair tax hike

Bosworth Liberal Democrats have slammed Bosworth's Conservative MP's choice to break their promise to the electorate and vote for a 1.25% rise in National Insurance.

The changes, which go against the Conservatives' manifesto promise not to raise taxes, will mean hard-pressed local families and small businesses will be left paying hundreds of pounds more in tax each year.

Bosworth's Tory MP was one of the 317 Conservative MPs to support the Health and Social Care Levy Bill on Tuesday. Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the government plans, arguing that they fail to fix the ongoing social care crisis and will fall disproportionately on the young, the low paid and small businesses.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a cross-party agreement on social care, to find a long-term solution to funding high-quality care for everyone who needs it.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat leader on Leicestershire County Council Michael Mullaney said

"Tory MPs including Bosworth's stood on a clear promise at the last election not to raise taxes, including National Insurance. Now they have voted to break that promise by hitting hard-pressed families and small businesses in Hinckley and Bosworth with a tax hike at a time many are still reeling from the impact of the pandemic.

"The people of Hinckley and Bosworth deserve better than this. They need an MP who they can trust to fight for a fairer deal for our area.

"Unlike Bosworth's Tory MP the Liberal Democrats opposed these unjust plans in Parliament. We have been clear about how to fix the social care crisis in a fairer way, instead of hiking taxes on those who can least afford it."

"At a time when nearly 7,000 families in Hinckley and Bosworth face the Tory government's planned £20 a week cut in Universal Credit, struggling people here face a double financial hit as we try to emerge from the pandemic".

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP added:

"The Tories have gone from being the party of low tax to the party of broken promises.

"Conservative MPs have shown that they can't be trusted and are taking people for granted. It's little wonder that voters around the country and across the Blue Wall are turning to the Liberal Democrats instead.

"We want to see cross-party talks on how to fund social care in a fair and sustainable way, along with urgent action to fix the staffing crisis in care homes and give unpaid carers the recognition they deserve."