TESSA Munt, MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, has reacted to the announcements delivered in the Autumn Budget on October 30, 2024. 

Writing on Facebook, Tessa Munt MP said: “I’m glad the Government has listened to Liberal Democrats’ calls for more investment in the NHS to start repairing all the damage done to local health services by the Conservatives.”

“However, I sense that decision-makers in London don’t understand the reality of how health provision works in rural areas like ours. What we really need is improved health services for local people, extra GP and NHS dentist appointments.”

Respondents to a recent report issued by HealthWatch Somerset outlined that there are still long waits involved in booking and scheduling appointments with GPs and other healthcare professionals.

She continued: “Seriously disappointing news – absolutely NOTHING extra for social care. Sadly, the new Government has repeated the last Government’s mistake - as Ed Davey put it ‘neglecting the elephant in the NHS waiting room’ – the crisis in social care.”

“We urgently need cross-party talks to tackle social care, because fixing this will be crucial to taking pressure off hospitals and local health services, and giving older people the care they need.”

The Liberal Democrats made social care a central plank of their campaign in July’s General Election. In particular, the party launched a ‘manifesto for care’, including plans to implement a cross-part commission on long-term social care funding.  

Munt continued: “I’m really glad that the Chancellor listened to the Lib Dem campaign on Carer’s Allowance. Raising the earnings limit is a good first step, but we’ll continue pushing Ministers to abolish the unfair cliff-edge altogether and to hold a broader review to give Carers the support they truly deserve.”

On taxes, Munt said: “Taxes should have been raised from the big banks, not small businesses. I’m very concerned about the impact of the Government’s increase to Employer’s National Insurance, which is a tax on jobs that will hit our small businesses and high streets.”

“The Government should instead be raising the money by reversing tax cuts for the big banks and making the social media giants pay more.”

Speaking about rural communities, Munt claimed they were “still taken for granted” and were treated much the same as the last Conservative government.

She added: “I am worried sick about the impact of the changes to the family farm tax which risks becoming a disaster for local farmers, tenant farmers and small businesses. Absolutely unforgivable. Who on earth do they think is going to feed us?”

Munt also referred to the “incredibly disappointing” removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance, of which more than 23,000 constituents in Wells and Mendip Hills claimed in 2023/24.

“Overall, there’s some good in difficult circumstances, but some big disappointments. I’ll be watching to ensure the positives become reality, and continue campaigning for what’s not there.”