Press Story

IPPR North has reacted to Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement.

Zoë Billingham, Director of IPPR North said:

“The world is changing – international instability has forced the government to make stark choices at the UK’s Spring Statement. Who pays the price of increasing costs is critical.

“One thing hasn’t changed: regional inequality. Public spending remains skewed—London gets £2,747 more per person than the North. And history tells us that when spending cuts come, they are not felt evenly across the country: the North too often takes the hardest hit. These are inequalities that have led to poorer health outcomes for people in northern regions. It is no accident that the region with the highest percentage of people in need of our social security safety net – whether this is because they are disabled or on low incomes – is the north east of England.

“The smartest move for the Chancellor? Explore fair tax options—like additional tax on gambling company profits or on capital gains —to ease fiscal pressure without deepening inequality. This is a smarter fiscal fix for the long term”.

ENDS

Contact: Rosie Lockwood, head of media and advocacy for IPPR North, on 07585772633 or r.lockwood@ippr.org.

Notes:

Zoë Billingham is available for interview.

IPPR North is the leading think-tank for the north of England, developing bold ideas for a stronger economy and prosperous places and people. For more information, visit ippr.org/north.