Stephen Morgan MP has welcomed decisive action to support families with the cost of living, help working parents get on and give every child the best possible start in life.
After years in which families worked hard but felt they were standing still, the Government is taking steps to put money back in people’s pockets, keep bills down, and make everyday life more affordable for parents and carers.
A key part of this support is Labour’s new entitlement to 30 hours of free childcare a week for working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years, saving families up to £7,500 a year per child. This will make a real difference to household budgets and help parents balance work and family life.
Mr Morgan paid a visit to Penbridge School in Fratton ahead of government funding for additional places for their school-based nursery and praised the vital role early years settings play in delivering high-quality education and supporting parents to stay in work.
Alongside expanded childcare, Labour is creating thousands of new places in school-based nurseries, with more being rolled out, and introducing free breakfast clubs in primary schools.
With 750 already in place and a further 2,000 launching from April, these clubs will ensure children start the day with a healthy meal while giving parents greater flexibility around work.
Labour is also taking wider action to support families with the cost of living, including:
- Six interest rate cuts so far, bringing down the average cost of a new mortgage by around almost £1,400.
- Removing levies to save families around £150 off energy bills from April.
- Extending the 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August this year.
- Freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years and freezing NHS prescription charges for a second year running.
- Increasing the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage, giving millions of low-paid workers a pay rise.
- Protecting the Triple Lock, meaning up to £575 more a year for 13 million pensioners.
Crucially, Labour is also taking action to cut child poverty, delivering the biggest reduction over a parliament since records began.
This includes scrapping the two child limit and expanding free school meals to half a million more children from low-income families. In contrast, the Tory or Reform child poverty pact would push half a million children back into poverty.
Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:
“Across Portsmouth, families were stretched to breaking point for 14 years under the Conservatives as they faced rising costs.
“That is why this Government is ensuring that real change is being delivered to the people of this city.
“New support is giving children the best start in life by helping local parents stay in work and easing pressure on household budgets.
“I have been meeting with local families benefiting from the roll out of the government-funded childcare, allowing me to see the impact first-hand that this Government’s support is making.”
Labour’s mission is clear: to break the unfair link between background and success, tackle the cost of living head-on, and build a country where every family can thrive.
