That’s the verdict of Linda Southall, a lifelong Labour supporter who couldn’t bring herself to vote for the party at the last election. Now she’s glad she didn’t.
Linda, 67, was furious when Reeves scrapped the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million pensioners. Today’s Spring Statement only deepened her frustration.
Linda, who lives near Cardiff, continues to work as a carer despite reaching state pension age. “My plan is to stay healthy and keep working as long as I can. My pension isn’t enough to live on.”
Her job has given her a stark view of Reeves’ £4.8billion cut to sickness benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP). “Everyone I visit is terrified. Reeves is targeting the most vulnerable.”
She dismisses suggestions that some are swinging the lead. “The people on PIP are incredibly poor. They don’t go on holiday, they can’t afford heating, they’re mostly old and frail.”
Linda doubts Reeves’s claims that the government will help them back into work. “Most of the people I see on PIP are too sick or struggling with mental health issues. They can’t work.”
She does support Reeves’s plan to boost apprenticeships and construction jobs but doubts her pledge to build 1.3 million affordable homes in five years. “That’s poppycock. Training the necessary workers will take far too long.”
Reg Smith was relieved Chancellor Rachel Reeves didn’t announce any tax increases in yesterday’s Spring Statement.
He still believes the income people can earn before paying tax is far too low, due to the freeze on tax thresholds.
Reg, 65, from Nottinghamshire, who has worked in health and safety for nearly 50 years, retires at the end of this month. Wife Geraldine retired two years ago after a career in banking.
He’s worried by Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) forecasts that inflation will remain high at 3.2% this year. “That’s going to hit my standard of living, especially now I’ll be spending more time at home. Gas and electricity bills have already risen astronomically.”
Reg is grateful that Geraldine encouraged him to save into a pension when he was younger, allowing him to build up a decent retirement pot after consolidating his various pension pots through PensionBee.
But he fears for younger generations. “With the state pension under pressure they’ll have to save more than ever. But how can they when the cost of living is so high?”
Rachel Reeves didn’t announce any tax increases today, but family man Christopher Matthewman isn’t relaxing. “It’s only a matter of time before our taxes go up again.”
Christopher, 39, lives in Essex with his wife Tracey, also 39, and their three daughters: Alice, 11, Grace, 8, and Matilda, 5.
The couple are still feeling the impact of previous tax hikes. “We’ve seen our tax bills rise, but our wages haven’t. We carry on and make things work, but it’s getting harder.”
Reeves claimed the average family would be £500 better off this year due to rising wages, but Christopher, who works as a facilities manager, and Tracey, a teacher, aren’t convinced. “Neither of us has had a pay rise this year, and I’m not sure we will.”
Family finances are becoming increasingly stretched and they use apps like Nous.co to balance their spending.
Christopher said. “Energy, mobile, broadband, council tax – it’s all going up in April. These increases will add around £200 a month to our outgoings. Times have gotten tighter, and we might have to rely on credit to balance things out, which isn’t ideal.”
Christopher isn’t impressed by the planned £4.8bn cut to welfare benefits either. “It’s harsh. Last year, I was unemployed – not by choice – and I had to rely on those benefits just to survive.”
Given the brutal verdict on today’s Spring Statement, Rachel Reeves will have a tough job winning the public over.
