Cost of living: Helen Morgan MP votes for emergency tax cut

North Shropshire’s MP voted for an emergency tax cut to ease the cost-of-living crisis in the House of Commons last night.

Lib Dem MP Helen Morgan supported her party’s amendment to the Queen’s Speech which also called for measures to tackle the chronic shortage of GPs and dentists and long ambulance delays.

However the Conservatives voted against the proposals, meaning for two days in a row they have snubbed measures which would put money back in families’ pockets and help them deal with spiralling food and energy prices.

The Lib Dem amendment voted on on Wednesday called for VAT to be reduced from 20% to 17.5%, saving the average family £600.

And on Tuesday the Tories voted down a windfall tax on energy companies’ multi-billion pound profits which was supported by the Lib Dems and other opposition parties.

Helen Morgan MP said: “Conservative MPs voted to block an emergency tax cut that would have put money straight back into people's pockets.

“I’m constantly contacted by families who need help coping with rising bills and grocery prices and our suggestions would have helped these people put food on the table.

“Once again this Government has decided to do nothing to help struggling families.

“People won’t forgive the Conservatives for refusing to help in their time of need.

It comes as figures show prices are rising at their fastest rate for 40 years as higher energy bills hit millions of households.

UK inflation, the rate at which prices are rising, jumped to 9% in the 12 months to April, up from 7% in March.

The Lib Dems also called for the Government to legislate to tackle issues in special needs education, reverse cuts to the armed forces and do more to clampdown on fraud and scams.