Local Senedd Members Paul Davies and Samuel Kurtz have voiced deep concern over the Autumn Budget being delivered today by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, warning that it offers little reassurance or support for the people and businesses of West Wales.
They argue that key sectors such as hospitality and tourism, which form the backbone of the regional economy, have once again been overlooked. Many local employers are already struggling following the recent rise in employer National Insurance contributions, and now face further pressure with a second minimum wage increase this year, including a significant 8.5% rise for 18–20-year-olds, a group heavily represented in both industries.
Farming families will also be angry given the refusal of the UK Labour Government to reverse the damaging family farm tax.
These pressures come at a time when the UK’s overall tax burden is set to rise sharply, with today’s Budget confirming £26 billion in additional taxation by 2029 and the tax burden projected to hit a record 38% of GDP by 2030–31. The continued freeze on income tax thresholds for a further three years, raising an estimated £8.3 billion, will also further squeeze working families across West Wales who are already struggling with rising household costs.
Both Members insist that the UK Government must recognise the unique challenges facing rural economies, where seasonal workforces and thin operating margins mean even small policy changes can have outsized consequences.
Commenting after the budget, Mr Davies said:
“The Chancellor’s budget is a complete betrayal of working people in Pembrokeshire. Instead of offering support to workers and investing in measures to boost productivity, it piles on tax hikes that punish workers and strips away more of their hard-earned money.”
“What we need are real tax cuts, tighter control of public spending, and a bold plan to kickstart our economy – and yet the UK Labour Government has shown its true colours once again —raising taxes, raiding pensions and savings, and relentlessly taking more from taxpayers who are already stretched to the limit.”
Also commenting, Mr. Kurtz said: “Rachel Reeves has delivered her tax-rising, nightmare-before-Christmas Budget, which completely fails to acknowledge the realities of running a business in West Wales. Our hospitality and tourism sectors are the lifeblood of the local economy, yet they’ve been handed higher costs and no support. Meanwhile, the refusal to change course on the family farm tax shows that Labour are willing to sacrifice agriculture through a broken pre-election promise.
“Employers here are already stretched to breaking point, and I fear that instead of helping our communities to thrive, this Budget risks accelerating closures and job losses across rural and coastal West Wales. Our region deserves better.”
