This column was written for the Peterborough Telegraph, and can be read here.
For many families, the school summer holidays are a time to spend together, get out and about, and make the most of the longer days. But after several years of cost-of-living pressures, I know that many parents are still having to think carefully about the cost of days out, travel and activities.
That’s why I welcome Labour’s new “Great British Summer of Savings” package, which is designed to help families enjoy more of what summer has to offer while also supporting local businesses and attractions.
The measures include a temporary reduction in VAT on children’s meals and a range of family attractions, alongside free bus travel for children aged five to fifteen throughout August, and reduced ticket prices for young people. There is also further action to help with household costs, including the extension of fuel duty cuts.
Taken together, these measures are intended to make family days out more affordable at a time when many households are still feeling the effects of rising costs over recent years.
Importantly, this is not just about helping families. It is also about supporting local businesses.
Across North West Cambridgeshire, summer is an important time for many local businesses and attractions. Whether people are spending time in their local area or visiting somewhere new with their family, those extra visitors can make a real difference to organisations across our communities.
When families have a little more confidence to go out for a meal, visit an attraction or spend time in their local area, that supports jobs and businesses at the same time. It is a reminder that helping households and supporting local economies often go hand in hand.
One of the things I regularly hear from residents is that while national economic indicators matter, what really matters is whether people feel better off in their day-to-day lives. For most people, that comes down to a simple question: Does their money go a little further than it did before?
That is why Labour’s focus on easing cost-of-living pressures remains so important. While there is still more to do, measures like these are aimed at making a practical difference in people’s everyday lives.
No single announcement will solve every challenge facing families, and I don’t think anyone would pretend otherwise. But helping people keep more of what they earn, reducing some of the costs associated with the school holidays, and supporting local businesses at the same time is a positive step.
As we head into the summer months, I hope these measures will help more families across North West Cambridgeshire enjoy time together, while also giving a welcome boost to the businesses and organisations that play such an important role in our local communities.