The Coalition Government announced it’s first budget today.

The budget included plans to:

• freeze pay for Cornwall’s four out of ten workers employed in the public sector;
• cut housing benefits which helped many people in Cornwall keep their homes during the recession;
• cut funding for child benefits, Sure Start, and the disability living allowance;
• review transport and other investment plans which are important for Cornwall’s economy in the Autumn.

Labour spokesperson Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“This budget is bad news for people in Cornwall.

“Many people here will be worse off as a result of today’s announcements. Many local workers now face pay freezes alongside bigger bills. It will increase the threat of homelessness for families on lower incomes. It cuts support for families with children and for Sure Start, and plans to cut funding for the Disability Living Allowance. There is a commitment to review spending on transport and other projects in the Autumn, and there was no specific commitment to any of the plans for investment in Cornwall’s transport infrastructure.

“It isn’t surprising that a Tory Chancellor would make these cuts. But many people here have previously supported the Liberal Democrats because they believed they could stop the Tories. Today, top Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander sat on side with the Tories while they savaged the household incomes of many Cornish families and those on lower incomes.”

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The Falmouth Penwerris byelection saw Labour take 38 per cent of the votes cast.

At Cornwall Council elections last year, the County and District Penwerris seats – which had previously been held by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats – were one of four Independent wins in Falmouth.

On Thursday 27 May, Labour’s Kim Moreton received 304 votes – the same number with which the Cornwall Council seat was won by Independent Councillor Grenville Chappel in 2009. Although the Falmouth Town Council byelection seat was narrowly won by the Conservative candidate with 324 votes, Labour’s voteshare represents a substantial swing back to Labour, and shows the Party is fighting back successfully to rebuild our strength in Falmouth.

Charlotte MacKenzie today thanked everyone who voted Labour in Truro and Falmouth.

Speaking after the result had been declared, Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“I want to thank everyone who voted for me and voted Labour here.

“The general election turnout and result in this constituency shows many more people voting Labour than at last year’s local elections, when some people who were rightly dismayed by the MPs’ expenses scandal chose to stay home.

“Many people who lent their support to the Liberal Democrats because they believed that was the best way to ‘stop the Tories’ at this general election feel utterly betrayed by the fact that Nick Clegg is now in talks about possibly supporting the Tories to form a government in this hung Parliament.

“How people vote is a matter for them. My personal approach has always been to encourage people to vote for what they believe in.”