A Botched Budget that Fails to Deliver for Hertfordshire

27 November 2025

Responding to the Budget (26 November), Victoria Collins, Liberal Democrat MP for Harpenden & Berkhamsted, criticised the Government for failing to deliver the investment and change needed for cost of living support in Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and surrounding villages.

She branded it a “botched Budget” that failed to deliver “the real change people in Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and our villages were promised”, instead “delivered a tax bombshell for millions” by extending the freeze in tax thresholds.

Victoria expressed her disappointment that the Chancellor did not go further in delivering meaningful support for families desperately needing help with the cost of living, pointing out that people’s living standards were being hit by the Government's tax rises according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. And with the Chancellor’s plan to reduce energy bills not coming into force until April 2026, Victoria said people need immediate relief, and that the Government should be bolder by adopting the Liberal Democrats' plan to halve energy bills by 2035.

The Chancellor refused to cut VAT for hospitality businesses in the Budget. At a time when businesses are closing their doors and jobs are at risk in the sector, an emergency VAT cut until April 2027 would have provided much needed relief to local high streets and protected jobs.

Furthermore, after the Government failed to scrap the Family Farm Tax in the Budget, Victoria and the Liberal Democrats have said that they will continue to campaign, and for a fair deal for rural communities and farmers, including investment in tackling rural crime.

Victoria said:

“This is a botched Budget from a Chancellor who sees the problem but won’t fix it. Promises on growth and tackling the cost of living have once again been broken.

“The Conservatives left the UK’s finances in a terrible state for families and small businesses across Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and our villages. We wanted bold decisions, instead the Government delivered a tax bombshell for millions.  

“I will continue to work with my Liberal Democrat colleagues to ensure local people and businesses in Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and our villages get the support they need.”

On Family Farms, Victoria said:

"It's outrageous that the Chancellor is doubling down on the Government's betrayal of family farms across Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and our villages today.

"Tinkering around the edges of the family farm tax will do nothing to reduce the devastating impact on many family businesses and will lead to many closing their farm gates for the last time.

"Farmers across the country are pleading for the Chancellor's support - and this Government has shamefully turned their back on them."