Wednesday 3 March saw a Conservative Chancellor struggle to do the right thing at the wrong time.

It is great news to see essential measures such as the extension of furlough, self-employment support and the £20/week increase in Universal Credit extended until September – but these decisions should not have been left so late.

People dependent on this support should have been told weeks or months ago that they would continue – instead of waiting for a Chancellor to pull them out of a hat as a PR stunt to distract attention from his risky decision to raise taxes early.

Any delay causes uncertainly – and uncertainty over whether furlough, in particular, will be extended costs jobs.

Jobs are still being lost, notably in the exporting industries hit by red tape and by creative industries that saw only meagre support, and are still being preventing from touring even after Covid restrictions are removed by a Government still refusing to agree that artists and musicians should be able to tour Britain and Europe without complex and expensive work permits.

The West of England is a loser from this Budget, with new infrastructure and public institutions being promised elsewhere in England, and ‘freeports’ being created in almost every other region – including some far from the sea. But nothing for the West of England.

That’s why we need a Metro Mayor willing and able to make the case for the region. Dan Norris is that person, and he has my full support.

Stay safe,
Rob Logan,
Labour Candidate