Workers in Swindon will see an average rise in National Insurance Contributions of £282 per year from April.
Nationally the increase is expected to raise an additional £12billion with Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak both saying it is “the right plan” and “must go ahead”.
Should the increase go ahead, the plans will see all employees, employers and the self-employed paying 1.25p more in the pound for National Insurance from April 2022 for a year. After that, the extra tax will be collected as a new Health and Social Care Levy.
Anyone earning under £9,880 a year, or £823 a month, will not have to pay any National Insurance or the new levy.
Commenting on the increase Labour Counillor Jim Grant said: “Families in Swindon are facing a cost of living crisis, yet incredibly, instead of helping people get by, the Conservatives are making things worse by raising taxes – at the worst possible time.
“Energy prices are soaring, inflation is the highest it’s been in decades and families are struggling to make ends meet. This government will happily write-off billions in fraud and waste, but when it comes to the people of Swindon, the Conservatives tell us they need a £28m tax hike.
“The truth is, Boris Johnson’s government is so focussed on defending their own indefensible law breaking they are failing at the basics. With energy bills soaring they force families to take a loan, and with the cost of living crisis deepening they force workers and business to pay higher taxes.
“This is a shambles, it’s hurting families in Swindon and it’s time for a change. Labour would scrap the National Insurance tax hike and offer families real support with their energy bills, it’s terrible shame this government is too chaotic to do the same.”
