Richard Harrington, prospective Conservative MP for Watford, this week gave his backing to new Conservative plans to stop a new jobs tax on working families and local firms across Watford. Labour Ministers confirmed in the recent Budget that Gordon Brown’s Government will be increasing National Insurance on both workers and local businesses. Under Labour’s tax-raising plans, anyone earning over £20,000 a year will see their pay packet shrink. Labour will also increase the tax that local firms pay for hiring workers who earn £5,700 a year or more.

By contrast, a Conservative Government will stop the most damaging part of Labour’s tax on jobs by cutting government waste while protecting frontline services. The cost of Labour’s tax rise on employers will be reduced by more than half. And anyone earning between £7,100 and £45,400 – seven out of ten working people across the country – will be up to £150 a year better off than under Labour’s plans.

At least 31,500 working people across Watford will be better off as a result. A typical nurse, teacher, firefighter or police officer would save £150 a year. People on lower incomes will benefit the most as a proportion of their incomes. And an estimated 5,271 jobs across the East of England could be saved by making it less expensive for local firms to hire workers.

The Conservative plans have been backed by leading business figures who run firms such as Sainsbury’s, Watford-based Mothercare and Marks & Spencer, and who employ over half a million people between them in the UK.

Richard said:

“For the last 13 years, working people Watford have seen their taxes go up and up and their money wasted. Now Gordon Brown is planning a tax on jobs that will hit anyone earning over £20,000 a year and destroy 5,271 jobs across the East of England by taxing local firms more.

“Labour will kill the recovery with their tax on jobs. Conservatives will cut Labour waste to stop it. More than 31,500 working people across Watford will be better off with the Conservatives. And we’ll cut Labour’s debt to stop higher interest rates and your mortgage going up. We’re all in this together, and we need new energy and fresh ideas to get Watford working for everyone.”