Clause 1

Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Clive Jones

Monday 12th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Clive Jones (Wokingham) (LD)]

I rise to speak to clause 10. It is utterly unfair and shameful that this Government are raising taxes on struggling families by freezing or continuing the freeze of income tax thresholds, which was started by the Conservatives. The Conservative Government spent years hitting people with stealth taxes, and Labour, sadly, has decided to continue to do the same. Clause 10 freezes the basic rate limit for income tax at £37,700, and it freezes the amount of personal allowance at £12,570 until 2030-31. This extension of the Tories’ stealth tax will hit ordinary families, people on low incomes and pensioners whose only income is the state pension. The Government have again turned their back on some of the most vulnerable for the sake of another short-sighted tax grab. Does the Minister really think that is fair?

Let me once again offer some advice. The best way to balance the books is to grow our economy, and the quickest way to do that is to repair the damage of the Conservatives’ terrible Brexit deal by negotiating a bespoke EU-UK customs union. A better trade deal like that would raise more than £25 billion for the Exchequer, which would be a huge boost for the public finances. It is suggested nearly every week in this place by Liberal Democrats. When will the Minister and his colleagues start to listen?

[Dan Tomlinson]

I was listening to the speeches made by Members on the Opposition Benches so intently that I am not in the right place in my notes to start my speech.

I extend my thanks to the various Members who have spoken today. I will be very brief in winding up— [Interruption.] Yes, I know some Members in particular will enjoy that. The Conservatives’ new clause 15 asks the Government, within three months of this legislation coming into force, to publish an assessment of the impact of exempting pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new state pension from income tax. That issue was raised by the Opposition spokesperson, the hon. Member for Grantham and Bourne (Gareth Davies), as well as by the hon. Members for Hinckley and Bosworth (Dr Evans) and for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Vikki Slade), and others.

The new clause refers to the Chancellor’s announcement that those whose only income is the basic or new state pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax over this Parliament. I know that some Members are particularly impatient and energetic on this point, but more details will be set out later in the year. As the details of the policy have not yet been announced, it would be premature for us to set out the impacts at this stage.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Clive Jones

Tuesday 9th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dan Tomlinson]

I would not presume to know where the next Treasury ministerial awayday will happen, but perhaps we will have to consider the restaurant in the hon. Member’s constituency. He is a strong advocate for the businesses in his constituency. I hope he knows that I advocated from the Back Benches—and will continue to do so in government—for policies that we can implement to boost economic growth and living standards, so that more people have more money to spend in businesses such as the one he mentions in his constituency.

[Clive Jones]

I have had many meetings with business owners across Wokingham, whether that is world leaders in the defence industry, GP surgeries, medical manufacturers, farmers, hospitality companies or exporters. It is clear that Labour’s hike to national insurance contributions has created immense financial burdens for those companies. This policy has prevented many from hiring more staff and devastated their profits, and it is stifling growth. What steps is the Minister taking to give businesses like those in Wokingham hope that this Government do have their back?

[Dan Tomlinson]

The big picture on all three of those questions is that at last year’s Budget, the Government made the decision to increase national insurance in order to raise £20 billion. We have put that money into our public services, making sure that waiting lists have fallen pretty much every single month since the election. That means that we have delivered 4 million more appointments, many more people have been seen, and waiting lists are falling in my constituency and across the country. That is the difference that this Government are making: we are repairing the foundations, and making sure that we can look after people now and in the future.