Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘We’re pleased he scrapped it’
Politicians and businesses in Kent have breathed a sigh of relief after the Chancellor made an unexpected U-turn on plans to raise National Insurance contributions for the self-employed.
Philip Hammond wrote to MPs telling them he would not press ahead with the policy less than a week after it was delivered.
The measure was expected to raise £2 billion by 2022, but he was accused of breaking a manifesto promise not to raise National Insurance contributions.
Alison Parmar, manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Kent, said: “We are pleased Mr Hammond has scrapped it. It was a bad idea in the first place.”