Liberal Democrats in Redcar & Cleveland have slammed local Conservative MPs Jacob Young and Simon Clarke for breaking their promise to the electorate and voting for a 1.25% rise in National Insurance.

The changes, which go against the Conservatives’ manifesto promise not to raise taxes, will mean hard-pressed local families and small businesses will be left paying hundreds of pounds more in tax each year.

Both the area’s MPs were among the 317 Conservative MPs to support the plans. Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the government plans, arguing that they fail to fix the ongoing social care crisis and will fall disproportionately on the young, the low paid and small businesses.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a cross-party agreement on social care, to find a long-term solution to funding high-quality care for everyone who needs it.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader Karen King said:

“Jacob Young and Simon Clarke stood on a clear promise at the last election not to raise taxes, including National Insurance. Now they have voted to break that promise by hitting hard-pressed families and small businesses in Redcar & Cleveland with a tax hike at a time when many are still reeling from the impact of the pandemic.

“The people of Redcar & Cleveland deserve better than this. They need MPs who they can trust and who will fight for a fairer deal for our area.

“Unlike our Tory MPs the Liberal Democrats opposed these unjust plans in Parliament. We have been clear about how to fix the social care crisis in a fairer way, instead of hiking taxes on those who can least afford it.”