FOLLOWING the Spring Statement on March 3, MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse has said that Chancellor Rachel Reeves missed a critical opportunity to tackle the cost of living, support small businesses, and strengthen Britain’s economy in the face of global instability.

With energy and petrol prices rising, and families already struggling to make ends meet, Mrs Hobhouse says the government must act urgently to prevent the situation from worsening.

The Liberal Democrat MP warned that global uncertainty, including the ‘reckless actions’ of US President Donald Trump, threatens to push costs even higher and disrupt trade.

She is calling on the government to scrap next September’s fuel duty hike, support high streets by ending the National Insurance ‘jobs tax’, and negotiate a new UK-EU customs union to reduce red tape and kickstart growth.

Ms Hobhouse commented: “Across our city, families are already struggling with eye-watering bills, and local business owners are worried about how much longer they can cope with soaring costs and unfair tax rises.

“Now they are worried sick that Donald Trump’s illegal military action in Iran could send prices even higher, as gas and petrol costs begin to surge.

“All of this is being made worse by a reckless and unreliable US President who keeps threatening Britain and the world with damaging tariffs and chaos on the global stage.

“This Spring Statement was a missed opportunity to deliver meaningful relief. The Government should be helping Bath’s hard-working residents, not piling further pressure onto their finances.

“We need urgent action to scrap the fuel duty hike, a fairer tax system for small businesses, and a new UK-EU customs union to get our economy growing again. These steps would protect jobs, support families, and give our country a fighting chance in these deeply challenging times.”