Chancellor needs to close unfair tax loops

BRITAIN is in a real mess. You have to be incredibly lucky to find an NHS dentist, while millions of us are still waiting for NHS treatment. That’s before we even get to unaffordable energy bills, or councils going bust.

In the 2021 census, Ashington Hirst was shown to be the second-worst neighbourhood in the county for deprivation, with 64.9% of households identified as deprived in at least one aspect.

In Ashington, our high street is full of boarded up shops, charity shops, betting shops, vape shops and Turkish barber shops. Northumberland County Council, has reallocated £600,000 of capital funding in the next financial year with the money reallocated into a number of other projects across the county. The largest chunk saw £500,000 moved into the Hexham High Streets Heritage Action Zone fund.

Ashington has some of the poorest neighbourhoods in Northumberland, ranked by lowest average household income.

In Ashington Hirst households had an estimated total annual income, before tax, of £29,000.

The neighbourhood with the ninth lowest average household

income was Ashington East. There, households had an estimated total annual income, before tax, of £33,000. The neighbourhood with the joint 17th lowest average household income was Ashington West. There, households had an estimated total annual income, before tax, of £36,600.

In contrast and unsurprisingly, Hexham, an already much more affluent area than Ashington, does not feature in the 20 most poorest neighbourhoods in Northumberland based on average household income.

The government needs to deliver a budget that works for people in our area and breathes life back into Britain.

Rather than rumoured tax cuts – which tend to benefit the very wealthiest – the Chancellor should make the tax system fairer to invest in this country, our high streets, and our healthcare system.

He could raise tens of billions of pounds by closing unfair tax loopholes, and ensuring that super-rich people and companies pay what’s fair.

This way, tax can be used for good, so that everyone benefits. Will the Chancellor do the right thing for once? CRAIG DONNISON