29/10/2026
A £100 payment for thousands of West Cumbrian households, help with energy and fuel bills, and new support for our high streets.
Today's Budget includes some important measures to help families and businesses across West Cumbria with the cost of living.
I know from speaking to thousands of people across the towns and villages of West Cumbria over the last couple of years just how much household budgets are being stretched. Energy bills, fuel costs and everyday essentials are a real worry for many families.
Here are some of the key announcements from today's Budget:
✅ £100 for households this winter - around 95% of households in West Cumbria should qualify for a £100 payment to help with energy bills. This will be paid directly into bank accounts in January for eligible households in Council Tax Bands A to D.
✅ Lower electricity bills - the temporary cut in VAT on household electricity to 0% will be extended until the end of June 2027, saving households around £50 on your bills.
✅ Scrapping gas standing charges - Ofgem will work to abolish standing charges on gas bills, with around 60% of households expected to save an average of £45 a year.
✅ Fuel duty frozen - the 5p per litre cut in fuel duty will be extended until July 2027, with rates frozen. This is particularly important here in West Cumbria, where so many of us rely on our cars to get to work, take the children to school and get around.
✅ Red diesel duty cut extended - the reduction in duty on red diesel, which was cut to its lowest level in over 20 years earlier this year, will also continue until July 2027. This is particularly welcome for our local farmers and rural businesses who rely on agricultural machinery.
✅ Backing our high streets - a £1 billion package of support for shops, pubs, cafés and other high street businesses, including business rates cuts and a two-year real-terms freeze. More than half of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will pay no business rates at all.
There will also be an additional £100 million for councils to support households facing the greatest financial difficulties.
These measures won't solve every financial pressure facing families, and I know there's more to do. But they will provide some welcome breathing space for people here in West Cumbria.
I'm also particularly pleased to see support for our local high streets. Alongside the work we're doing to regenerate our town centres, helping independent shops, pubs and local businesses to thrive is really important.
My priority is making sure families across West Cumbria feel the benefit of these changes and that our towns and communities get the investment they deserve.
