'We're Always the Afterthought': Halifax's Budget Demands
In the historic West Yorkshire town of Halifax, the conversation around the upcoming budget is as rich as the cheese being served at a new monthly club. Sky News visited the town to gauge the priorities and fears of its residents ahead of Chancellor's announcement on Wednesday.
At a sleek new brewery, the cheese-lovers of Halifax were paying homage to fromage, but discussion quickly turned to the state of the nation. Natalie Rogers, who runs her own small business with her partner, was clear about what is needed. "I think investing in small businesses, investing in these northern towns, where at one time we were making all the money for the country, can we not get back to that?" she said, highlighting a feeling of neglect. "We're not investing in local industries."
Wealth Tax and Closing Loopholes
At the next table, Ali Fletcher argued for more radical fiscal measures. "I think wealth inequality is a major problem. The divide is getting wider," he stated. "For me, a wealth tax is absolutely critical. We need to address this question of 'Is there any money left?'. There's plenty of money, it's all about choices that government make."
This sentiment was echoed in the town's vibrant night-time economy, a sector that has become a barometer for changing urban landscapes. Michael Ainsworth, owner of the Graystone Unity bar and music venue, reported a direct impact on trade around budget time. "Whenever there's a budget, for a few days afterwards, there's a drop off in trade," he said. He suggested the government look beyond taxing everyday spending: "I accept the government needs to raise money but, in this day and age, there's better ways to go about doing that, like closing tax loopholes for the huge businesses."
A Generation Feeling the Pinch
For younger residents, the intergenerational fairness of government spending is a key concern. Recent graduates Josh Kinsella and Ruby Firth, who moved to Halifax for its more affordable housing, pinpointed pensions. "Can we stop triple-locking the pensions, please?" asked Josh. "Stop giving pensioners everything. For God's sake, I know they had hard times in the 70s and the 80s, but it just feels like we're now paying for everyone else."
This feeling of being overlooked was powerfully summarised by musician Ben Randm. "Everyday people are seen as statistics, we're always the afterthought," he said. "When the cuts are done, we're always impeded and the ramifications that has for people's livelihoods, for people's mental health, for people's passion and drive... it's such a struggle." He, like many others in the hospitality sector, is calling for extra help for venues that provide a vital community link.
Despite the challenges, there is a determined buzz in this corner of Halifax, near the historic Piece Hall. David Van Gestel, who chose the town to open a third branch of his bar MAMIL, said venues now have to work harder to attract people. On a busy quiz night, he noted, "I think the government needs to start putting some initiatives in place. They talk about growth but the reality is that the only thing we're seeing grow is our costs."
As Lisa Kempster, who marshalled the cheese tasting, observed, the overarching mood is one of cautious uncertainty. The people of Halifax have laid out their demands; now they wait to see if the budget will listen.
