Stephen Metcalfe, local MP
for South Basildon and East Thurrock, rose on the floor in the House of Commons
during Prime Minister’s question to stand up for hard working people in
Basildon and Thurrock.
During a lively debate, Mr
Metcalfe asked the Prime Minister: “Does my right
hon. Friend agree that we should be cutting taxes for hard-working people in
Basildon and Thurrock, rather than taking money away from them only to then
return their own money through tax credits?”
To which David Cameron
responded: “My hon. Friend is entirely right. Of
course, he will know that in April every working family will see a £220 tax cut
as we lift the tax threshold yet further—everyone will benefit from that.”
“In our view,
what we should be doing is cutting people’s taxes, rather than taking more in
taxes and recycling them through the massive tax credits business. That is what
we believe on the Government Benches, and that is what will work for working
families.”
Stephen added
later: “The last Government made ordinary, hard working people dependent on the
state. They taxed them too much only to give them their own money back. This
Government believes we should try and avoid taking it in the first place and is
committed to spending people’s money responsibly.”
“We have
already raised the tax threshold to over £9,000, lifting millions out of tax
altogether and are aiming for £10,000 by the next election. I know that this is
a difficult time for many people in South Basildon and East Thurrock so I want
to see this go even further.”
