One Nation Tories Call On Government To Put Students And New Parents At Centre Of Budget
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will present the Spring Budget on 6 March (Alamy)
3 min read
A centrist group of Conservative MPs has called for a series of measures to be put in the Chancellor's Spring Budget that would deliver changes for new parents and students.
The One Nation caucus, which has 107 registered Conservative MPs, was founded in 2019 and is currently chaired by Tory MP Damian Green.
Ahead of the Budget, which will be presented by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on 6 March, the group has called for eight specific measures to be introduced across childcare, housing policy and tax cuts. As high costs of living continue to affect households across the UK, the caucus group argued that without measures to address "everyday challenges", the Conservative Party is likely to suffer defeat to the Labour Party at the general election, expected by the end of this year.
They have called on the government to commit to a multi-year settlement for childcare funding and for first time buyers to be allowed to put up to 25 per cent of their tax free pension savings into the a deposit on a home. Other proposed measures include abolishing stamp duty for buyers who are downsizing and rewarding local authorities who build and sell 100 per cent of their advisory targets over the next four years.
The One Nation group wants the Chancellor to put forward a "fair, tax-cutting budget that delivers for hardworking people" by using fiscal headroom to cut direct taxes and taxing all income at the same rate.
They also called on the government to guarantee that no graduate pays higher interest rates than the average commercially available and for a levy to be introduced on foreign owners of vacant luxury flats.
Green said that the chancellor must "seize the opportunity" at the budget to cut taxes and drive growth.
"This is our chance to demonstrate to voters that we are on their side and that we are taking steps to alleviate pressures they face in all aspects of everyday lives," he said.
"If we fail to do so, we risk the damaging consequences of a Labour government.
“The measures we’ve put forward ahead of the Budget set out a clear, One Nation vision that places aspiration and opportunity back at the heart of the Conservative Party and will enable the Chancellor to prove that the Party understands the pressures faced in everyday life and wants to alleviate them."
Matt Warman, Vice Chair of the One Nation Caucus, said that while measures announced in the Autumn Statement were "welcomed", the Chancellor "mustn't stop there".
“The Chancellor must seize the opportunity at the Budget to underscore our commitment to supporting parents to build a better life," he said.
"If we fail to do so, we risk letting down millions of parents who deserve not to have to choose between their child and their career.”
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