Kate writes a bi-weekly column for the Burton Mail. This column was originally featured in the 18th November print edition.
At the start of the year the Prime Minister committed to halving inflation by the end of 2023. This week, I am pleased to see that this target was achieved with inflation falling to 4.6% from a height of over 10% at the start of the year.
I know residents across Burton and Uttoxeter are impacted with the cost of living and it is also the case that inflation has the biggest impact on those on the lowest incomes. That is why cutting inflation was a top priority for the Government and why this week’s announcement was so welcome. There is of course still more to do to tackle the cost of living but this news builds on the work the Government is already doing to support those most affected, including the extension of the Cost-of-Living payments in addition to measures to support with the costs of childcare and transport.
Stopping the dangerous small boat crossing was also one of the Prime Minister’s priorities. The Government has already taken significant steps to tackle this issue, and as a result crossings are down by more than a fifth this year. Monthly illegal migrant numbers are trending upwards across Europe, with the exception of the United Kingdom, where they are falling.
This means that the Government can start standing down hotels which have been used as temporary asylum accommodation. I am absolutely delighted that a Burton hotel is to be included in the first tranche of hotels which will be completed by the end of the month. This followed a meeting I had with the Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick, to discuss the use of hotels in Burton and the concerns I had with this approach.
The Prime Minister has said that while the Supreme Court judgement on Rwanda earlier this week was not the outcome the Government wanted, it remains completely committed to ending illegal migration and will do whatever it takes to do so. This includes, revisiting domestic legal frameworks and international relationships if necessary.
This is the right approach and I welcome the Prime Minister’s continued commitment to deliver on the priorities of the British people.
