Lloyd Hatton, Labour MP for South Dorset, has today welcomed measures announced in the Spring Statement that will deliver tangible benefits for working families, Britain’s armed forces personnel, and the NHS.
As part of the Spring Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed that millions of working families will receive a pay rise in real terms, from next week. With the National Living Wage set to increase by 6.7% from April.
Separately, nurses, teachers, police officers, and armed forces personnel have already been awarded a real term pay rise, following years of salary cutbacks. Today, the Chancellor re-committed to ensuring key public sector workers are properly paid.
Following this announcement, Lloyd said: “Families across South Dorset are receiving a long overdue pay boost from April, this Labour Government is making sure that pay slips always keep up with the cost of living.”
Today, the Chancellor also confirmed a fully funded £2.2 billion increase in defence spending from next month. This comes after the Government set out the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, in February. Spending on defence will increase to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament. South Dorset is home to a proud armed forces community and many supply-chain businesses that support defence industries are set to benefit.
Following new defence investment announced by the Government, Lloyd added: “This new investment means improved housing for military families, new investment and jobs for businesses in South Dorset supporting the armed forces, and a clear commitment to investing in Britain’s national security.”
This Government has already committed to increasing NHS spending nationally by £25.7 billion from 2024-2025. Locally, the NHS is also receiving a significant boost. Dorset County Hospital is moving ahead with plans for a new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit after being awarded £100 million from the new Government.
Following the Statement, Lloyd set out: “The Government is already delivering record investment – and much-needed reforms – across our cherished NHS. We are feeling the benefits on the ground with new emergency facilities under construction at Dorset County Hospital and NHS waiting lists falling for the last five months.”
