"I welcome this opportunity to participate in this most important debate today. It is, of course, a very wide-ranging debate and, rather than try and cover all the points—although a lot of them have been covered excellently already—I shall make some general observations which I trust are relevant.
"I begin by noting the economic background to the Budget. The economy is growing, albeit modestly. Unemployment is around 4% and CPI inflation fell below the 2% target in September. Public sector borrowing, though still too high, has fallen from pandemic levels and is lower than during the financial crisis …..." Baroness Lea of Lymm - View Speech
"My Lords, I was very encouraged by last week’s Autumn Statement and welcomed the policy changes, while recognising the Chancellor’s limited room for manoeuvre. However, before discussing these policy changes, I would like to put the Autumn Statement into some sort of economic context.
"I welcome the opportunity to participate in this very important debate today. It is of course a wide-ranging debate and, rather than trying to cover all the points, I shall just make some observations that I trust are relevant.
"I was actually encouraged by the Chancellor’s Budget Statement yesterday. To put it in context, how very different it felt from November’s Autumn Statement, which, above all else, aimed for stability after the market chaos of late September and October.
"First, I want to say how delighted I am to follow the excellent maiden speech of my noble friend Lady Bray. I very much congratulate her and, given her illustrious career, I am sure she has much to contribute to this House. I look forward to being her colleague for …..." Baroness Lea of Lymm - View Speech
"My Lords, it is a great honour and privilege to make my maiden speech in this House today. I would like to thank everybody in the House, from all sides, for their kindness and support. I am deeply grateful for the guidance and advice offered by all the officers and …..." Baroness Lea of Lymm - View Speech