Adam Dance MP tells Parliament the Budget has left Yeovil asking “Why bother?”

Adam Dance MP has warned the Government that people in Yeovil are being pushed to breaking point by a Budget that offers no plan for growth, rising costs and little support for the businesses that keep the local economy going.

Speaking in the Chamber during the Budget debate, Adam said that the mood in Yeovil following the Chancellor’s announcement was one of frustration and fatigue. After weeks of leaks, briefings and uncertainty, many local businesses have told him this is the “Why bother?” Budget.

Adam said:

“The topic of today’s debate is investment and renewal, but that is not what people in Yeovil are thinking about after this Budget. For my constituents, including many local business people who came to meet me yesterday, this is the ‘Why bother?’ Budget.

“They ask, ‘Why bother to trust this Government?’ After weeks of confusion, they were left with a Budget that does not provide stability, does not support growth and does not help the people who are working hard to keep our communities going.”

Adam set out the struggles facing local employers following the Budget. He highlighted increasing business rates, higher costs, recruitment pressures and a lack of meaningful support for small businesses, hospitality venues and rural communities. He also drew attention to the steep rise in electricity costs, the challenges facing family farms and the damaging impact of freezing income tax thresholds, which act as a stealth tax on working people.

Sharing examples from Yeovil, he said:

“One local hospitality business asked me why he had battled to stay open through the last five years only to face more pressure and no support. Another told me rising business rates had forced staff redundancies, and this Budget may mean even more. These are real people, real jobs and real livelihoods.”

Adam also criticised the lack of ambition in the Chancellor’s plans, calling instead for bold measures to support growth. He urged the Government to consider proposals long championed by the Liberal Democrats, including replacing the broken business rates system with a fairer commercial landowner levy, reducing VAT for hospitality firms and improving the UK’s trade relationship with Europe to unlock greater economic opportunity.

Adam added:

“People in Yeovil want a government that backs small businesses, supports family farms and delivers a clear, honest plan for growth. This Budget does none of that. Our communities deserve better. They deserve stability, ambition and a government that listens.”