‘Staggeringly out of touch’: City council leader slams Budget, and awards £25,000 to Hull food banks

ENERGY BILLS SUPPORT ‘NOT ENOUGH’: Hull City Council leader Mike Ross

By Simon Bristow

Hull’s Liberal Democrat city council leader Mike Ross has described the Government as “staggeringly out of touch” following Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Budget yesterday.

Opposition parties have zeroed in on plans to scrap the lifetime pensions allowance announced by the Conservative Chancellor, which has been described as a “giveaway” for the wealthiest one per cent, with Labour seeking to force a Commons vote on the issue next week.

Although Hunt announced continued support for household energy bills, the Lib Dems said this was not enough and prices should be cut.

Councillor Ross last night announced £25,000 of funding for Hull’s food banks in response to the Budget. The money, from the Leader’s Contingency Fund, will go to the city’s leading food bank charity Fairshare to support the work of its Hull and Humber branch at this “critical” time.

Reacting to the Tory Budget, Councillor Ross said: “Today we saw a Government staggeringly out of touch with the issues the people of Hull face.

“This Liberal Democrat council will not stand by. While the cost of living crisis is a national problem which needs a national solution we are doing everything we can to support the city through this time.

“Families and pensioners in Hull deserve a fair deal, they deserve to be able to put food on the table and heat their homes. Sadly, this Government either just doesn't get it or just doesn't care.” 

Hunt, who also announced 30 free hours of childcare for working parents, said removing the pension cap would benefit the NHS by encouraging doctors to continue working.