Sutton Conservatives won’t oppose government’s care-busting jobs tax

The Conservatives on Sutton Council refused to call on the Government to reverse their damaging jobs tax at January's full council meeting.

The motion, brought forward by the Sutton Liberal Democrats, highlighted the impact that the hike in Employers’ National Insurance contributions will have on Sutton’s charity sector, social care providers, and NHS services.

These increases could cost GP surgeries the equivalent of more than two million appointments a year, push hospices off a financial cliff-edge and damage other social care providers. 

Sutton Conservatives tried to amend the motion - as they could not accept responsibility for their party’s role in creating the crisis in our care sector during the last government - effectively turning their backs on charities, doctors, and care providers in the borough.

In a recent letter to the Council, Community Action Sutton and 14 local charities stated that their ability to support residents “is now fundamentally at risk” because of the changes.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Qasim Esaks, who seconded the motion, said:

“The Conservatives refused to stand up for Sutton’s voluntary organisations and care providers. These groups are part of the fabric of our community, and their work supports countless residents, especially the most vulnerable.”

“For their sake, there ought to be cross-party consensus on this issue. But instead the Conservatives turned their back on every charity worker, doctor, and care provider in Sutton.”

“The local Conservatives seem unwilling to admit that their own party left our care sector in a mess when in government, and it is very disappointing that they could not do the right thing and back this motion.”

“Monday’s vote showed that the Liberal Democrats are willing to stand up for our GPs, hospices, care providers and voluntary sector ”