Budget Resolutions

David Williams Excerpts

Monday 1st December 2025 Commons Chamber

[David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab)]

I speak in this debate having listened to the real voices of people across Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove, away from the Westminster bubble and media frenzy. For too many of them, the last Conservative Government were defined by rising bills, falling living standards and failing public services. My constituents’ views were clear: quite simply, this Budget will make life better for them and their families.

David, who lives in Tunstall, is a single dad. He skips meals so that his kids can eat properly. Sarah from Butt Lane told me that she panics when it comes to buying new school shoes every September. Sarah and David work hard—very hard—so I am relieved that their children will be among the 4,400 local children who are lifted out of poverty thanks to the abolition of the two-child limit. Their kids will also join over 6,700 others in benefiting from the extension of free school meals, as well as new breakfast clubs, thanks to this Labour Government. No kid should start the day with an empty stomach.

Over in Talke Pits, I spoke with Lisa, who earns the minimum wage in a warehouse. She told me that, for the past few years, she has felt as if she was

“running up the down escalator”,

but now thousands of people like Lisa will take home £1,500 more a year thanks to the fair decisions that we have made.

On Saturday evening, I went to the Kidsgrove Christmas lights switch-on, where I spoke to an older couple I first met last winter. For many years, they have been turning off appliances to save every possible penny. They told me that cutting £150 off their energy bills, combined with the 4.8% rise in the state pension and protection of the triple lock, will make a significant difference to them.

On the subject of pensions, a former mineworker in Packmoor contacted me to thank this Government for delivering justice for him and his former colleagues. As a result of the actions of this Labour Government, over 800 former mineworkers, canteen and office staff now have more money in their back pockets. As he told me:

“We earned it, David. But we’ve buried too many who didn’t live to see it.”

I also thank my friend, colleague and local councillor, Duncan Walker, who has campaigned on this matter for many decades.

Finally, I turn to Calvin, who contacted me about our record investment into our NHS. Like so many, Calvin was left languishing on waiting lists for years. Locally, waiting lists have already been cut by as much as 50% as a result of an extra 55,000 appointments at Royal Stoke and County hospitals. Calvin told me that he cannot wait to go back to work, and this investment will help many more like him.

This Budget is a serious, responsible and compassionate plan that begins to restore security for people across my constituency of Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove.