Salisbury’s mayor has responded to the autumn budget with concerns it "falls short of what’s needed". 

Yesterday Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the 2021 budget which was highly anticipated as the effects of Covid and a higher living wage continue to take a toll. 

However, there are concerns that some areas may have been missed, with Labour councillor and Salisbury Mayor, Cllr Caroline Corbin feeling "residents have been let down" and that the budget "falls short". 

Mayor Caroline Corbin's reaction

Cllr Corbin made the following points:

  • “There was no mention on increasing funds for Mental Health services." 
  • “The minimum wage will still leave some families and small businesses struggling and families reliant on top ups from the benefits system."
  • “The Courts where covid has seen many cases cancelled leaves the victims in turmoil and adds to the growing mental health crisis." 
  • “[Rishi Sunak] didn’t help the carers whether unpaid or not and the disability benefits don’t always meet the needs of claimant." 
  • “Families are still relying on food banks to fill the gaps." 
  • “Schools funding returning to 2010 levels [when] it should be exceeding it." 

More generally, Cllr Corbin added: “Funding for hospitality and business will of course be welcomed if it does what it’s intended to do!

"Although if we see unsustainable new businesses and other ventures appear only to meet a demise in a year or two where is the sense in that?"

Additionally, she mentioned how addressing the homeless crisis is important but "it has to be with the right support networks to stop people falling between the gaps again.

"Some of the homeless are veterans and so they deserve support too," she added.

"We need to stop relying on charities and volunteers to be a sticking plaster for problems which should be properly funded in the first place.”

We have fact-checked these points against the chancellors budget. 

The government's stance

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said his budget will deliver a stronger, post-pandemic economy and he will give people the support they need with the cost of living and levelling up. 

We summarised the ten key takeaways that will impact you. 

Salisbury MP John Glen feels positive about the budget announcement, arguing that "close to home" a lot of businesses will benefit from the 50% cut in business rates. 

Responding to Cllr Corbin's criticism, Mr Glen said: "The budget includes a massive additional £44 billion for the NHS, including mental health, capital investment in hospitals, new public health programmes and funding to tackle the pandemic backlog of routine and elective surgery.

"There is also billions of pounds of extra catch-up money for schools, and investment in both early years and vocational skills.

"There is help with the cost of living for those who need it most in the form of tax cuts for low income families and a further increase to the national living wage.

He added: “All these welcome measures are set against a backdrop of ensuring we have a strong economy, which benefits everyone by creating more job opportunities, better pay and more money for public services.

“As the Office for Budget Responsibility commented,  the government’s plan has already proven remarkably successful. We are on track to return the economy to pre-pandemic levels far sooner than predicted and are working hard to ensure growth, stability and resilience in the long term.”

We have fact-checked these points against the chancellors budget. 

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date, as well as signing up for one of our newsletters.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.