Autumn Budget 2026: Bedfordshire MPs react

Chancellor John Healy delivered the Government's Autumn budget today (October 28), setting out plans for the UK economy.

Sarah Owen, Labour MP for Luton North, said the Budget would help households with the cost of living, support local businesses and deliver investment in public services.

She highlighted £100 energy bill relief for 38,000 households in Luton North, the minimum wage increase, frozen fuel duty and higher mileage rates benefiting private hire drivers.

Ms Owen said: “This budget will give more breathing space to people across Luton North.”

She also welcomed business rates cuts for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, alongside a 25% reduction in energy bills for eligible industrial businesses.

Referring to her work as chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, she said: “... it is so good to see paternity leave rights extended for self-employed dads, and £15m promised to the Misogyny Prevention Fund.”

She added: “These changes will make a difference now, and for years to come in Luton North.”

The MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire, Rachel Hopkins, said the Budget would provide the £100 energy payments to more than 46,000 households in her constituency and offer business rates relief for high street retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

She said: “This Labour government has delivered a budget for working people in communities like ours. It will make a real difference in Luton South and South Bedfordshire, offering breathing space for today and real hope for the future.”

The statement also highlighted a £40 billion investment to rebuild council housing, increased funding to tackle rough sleeping, and support for innovation and reindustrialisation.

She said these measures would help “build a stronger economy with the jobs of the future.”

Mohammad Yasin, Labour MP for Bedford and Kempston, said: “Today’s Budget shows that, despite the serious challenges posed by conflict in the Middle East and Europe and the resulting energy crisis, this Labour Government is focused on supporting working people, easing pressure on families and backing British businesses.”

He highlighted £100 council tax rebates for 41,580 local households, energy bill support, a 3.9% increase in the minimum and living wages, business rates relief and continued fuel duty discounts.

Mr Yasin said: “These measures will not solve every challenge overnight, but they will help give families some breathing space.”

He also highlighted investment in housing, the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor and defence spending, which is set to reach 3% of GDP by 2030.

He added: “By combining practical support for households in Bedford and Kempston with responsible financial decisions and long-term investment, this Budget aims to relieve the challenges of today while building a stronger economy for tomorrow.”

Alistair Strathern, Labour MP for Hitchin, which includes the Shefford area, welcomed Budget measures to remove business rates for eligible high street businesses. He said: “I’m delighted to see this big win for so many of our much-loved high street businesses in the Budget today.”

He added: "We haven't stopped there either, and it's great to see much-loved local favourites like Rose's at Duck lane and Dalchini Spice in Shefford seeing significant rate cuts too.

“After months of pressing the case in Parliament and spotlighting the value these businesses bring to our community, I’m delighted to see the Government acting to provide this crucial breathing space as international pressures push up costs for all of us.”

The changes raise the threshold for paying business rates to a rateable value of £18,000, taking 70,000 high street businesses out of rates, while other businesses will receive discounted or frozen bills.

Mr Strathern said: “I’m delighted to see this big win for so many of our much-loved high street businesses in the Budget today.”

Alex Mayer, Labour MP for Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, welcomed £100 energy payments for around 40,000 households across her constituency, alongside the removal of gas standing charges and an extended electricity VAT cut.

She said: “This Budget is about giving families some breathing space as global challenges swirl all around us.”

The National Living Wage will rise above £13 an hour, benefiting 6,700 workers across Central Bedfordshire, while pensioners will see their state pension rise by 3.9%. Mayer also welcomed the Your First Home scheme and frozen fuel duty.

She said: “I’m pleased the Chancellor is taking practical steps to put more money back into people’s pockets.”

However, she criticised the lack of a devolution deal for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, saying: “Residents will be flabbergasted that councils couldn’t put differences aside to unlock multi-millions of regional funding.”

But Conservative Mid Bedfordshire MP Blake Stephenson was not so positive.

Mr Stephenson criticised the Labour Government’s Budget, claiming it would leave families facing higher taxes, weaker economic growth and rising borrowing. He also criticised the lack of a plan to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.

He said: “If you thought last year's Budget for Benefits Street from Labour was bad, today's Budget is another failure from a Labour Government that has run out of ideas and is asking hardworking families to pay the price.”

Stephenson argued: “You can’t have social security without national security.” He said the Conservatives’ alternative was to cut wasteful spending, control welfare costs, properly fund the Armed Forces and reduce taxes.

He added: “We believe in living within our means, rewarding hard work and building a stronger economy that delivers for local people.”

North Bedfordshire MP Richard Fuller, Conservative, was also contacted for comment, but has not yet responded.