People living and working across the East Midlands will benefit from today’s Budget as the Conservatives deliver on the promises made to the British people, investing in infrastructure, the NHS and public services across the region.

The plans outlined by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, will get things done and provide security for now while laying the foundation for prosperity in the future.

The Budget marks the start of record level of investment in the people’s priorities - infrastructure, the NHS and public services – to ensure the promises in the General Election in December are kept and the potential of every part of the United Kingdom, including the East Midlands, is unleashed.

Increases in the National Insurance threshold and the National Living Wage announced today will mean families keep more of the money they earn, while tens of millions of pounds of investment in the region’s roads, rail, housing, broadband and flood defences will ensure everyone can have the same chances and opportunities in life wherever they live.

Thanks to the measures taken today, someone working full-time on the minimum wage in the East Midlands will be over £5,200 better off compared to ten years ago when the Conservatives’ came into office.

Conservative MP for the Gainsborough constituency, Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Leigh MP, said today’s Budget proves this Government ‘will get things done’ for thousands of families across his constituency.

Today’s announcements for the East Midlands include:

• Boosting road maintenance funding by £56 million. The East Midlands will receive £56 million in additional funding for local road maintenance through the Potholes Fund in 2020-21.
• Ensuring the East Midlands receives its share of funding for flood and coastal defences. The following locations will benefit from at least the following levels of funding: £75 million for Skegness, £12 million for Tattershall, and £6 million for Boston to better protect over 17,000 properties.
• Providing £161 million from the Transforming Cities Fund for Derby and Nottingham. This includes £25 million for bus rapid transit in Derby and over £10 million for a new cycle route between Nottingham, Derby and East Midlands Airport, and £33 million for Leicester, including £8 million for sustainable transport from St Margaret’s to Birstall.
• Delivering £500 million for major road schemes between 2020 and 2025. This will help fix the A46 Newark Bypass. We will also develop plans for upgrades to the M1 to better link Leicester and Nottingham.
• Investing £20 million in the Midlands Rail Hub – a series of upgrades to improve connections between cities and towns across the Midlands.
• Upgrading and improving hospital facilities. As part of our £2.7 billion for six major hospital schemes, we are committing funding for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

Commenting, Sir Edward said:

“Last year’s election gave a clear verdict. Now the people’s Government is delivering a Budget which delivers on our promises to the British people – it is a Budget of a government that gets things done.

“Investment will reach record levels over the next five years, as the Conservatives commit to levelling up across the country – benefitting families and businesses in all corners of the country including in the Gainsborough constituency.

“I am delighted that we have set out measures to support families and help them with the cost of living, while continuing to invest in Britain’s future responsibly – laying the foundations for a decade of growth and prosperity.

“This is the first Budget delivered outside of the EU for more than five decades. It sets out a clear, one nation, path for the Government to get things done.”