Guildford and Cranleigh hardest hit by stealth tax rise as almost 5,000 dragged into higher rate

This morning, The Times reports on a new analysis by the Liberal Democrats, revealing that Guildford Constituency is amongst one of the hardest hit parts of the country affected by the Government's stealth tax increase which froze the higher rate tax threshold.

There are now 4,950 new higher-rate taxpayers in the local area due to the broken Conservative promises on tax since the 2019 election.

The analysis shows that Guildford, Cranleigh and surrounding villages had 13,250 higher rate taxpayers in 2020 but now, due to the Government's changes to tax, there are now 18,200 paying higher tax.

Of the worst hit, Guildford ranks joint 41st for the number of taxpayers at the higher rate.

The changes nationally mean there are a projected 5.5 million higher rate Income Tax payers in the tax year 2022 to 2023, which is a 44% increase compared to 2019 to 2020.

The Liberal Democrat candidate for Guildford constituency, Zöe Franklin, has criticised Angela Richardson MP for breaking her election promise not to raise taxes. In this Parliament alone, the Conservative MP for Guildford has voted 13 times in favour of higher taxes on families and small businesses.

The latest analysis is based on figures provided by the Government in response to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP showing the number of higher rate taxpayers by constituency in 2019/20, the most recent year available.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Guildford constituency, Zöe Franklin, said:

"This news will come as a crushing blow to local people who are struggling to keep up with spiralling bills.

"In the coming days it will be announced that energy bills will rise to over £3,000 a year, and these tax hikes will add more salt to the wound.

"It has been disappointing to see the local Conservative MP vote in favour of these tax hikes time and time again. Every tax hike hurts families, pensioners and businesses in Guildford in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

"Squeezed-middle families in our area need help rather than these grossly unfair tax hikes. That is why I'm calling for a temporary VAT cut to help people at the shopping tills and petrol pumps. It is time to immediately cut prices with a tax cut which actually helps hard-working people and struggling pensioners."

ENDS

Notes to Editor

The Times article here: More voters in blue seats pulled into higher tax rate | News | The Times