MP welcomes news that 188,600 Cumbrians will get tax cut in March

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed the news in today's budget that 188,600 people in Cumbria will be receiving a tax cut thanks to the Liberal Democrats.

The Chancellor announced in the budget that the tax threshold will be raised to £9,205 from April 2013, meaning that millions of lower-income hard-working people will be taken out of tax altogether.

Comparing the personal tax for 2010/11 of 6,475 to the announcement made today for 2013/2014 of £9,205 will mean that tax payers will now be £45.50 better off each month.

The announced increase in the threshold by £1100 is worth £220 to 21 million working people - taking the total income tax cut for working people delivered by the coalition over the 3 years to nearly £550 a year.

In Cumbria this announcement means 11,200 people will be lifted out of paying tax altogether in April and a further 177,400 people will receive a £130 tax cut.

Tim said: "The Chancellor has done the right thing in listening to Liberal Democrat calls for the Income Tax threshold to be raised further. I want to see a fairer tax system where help is provided for those who need it most and where the richest pay their fair share. Raising the Income Tax threshold to £9,205 will help ordinary working people in Cumbria who have been struggling with bills and higher cost of living."

Commenting further, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander added: "Liberal Democrats have been clear in our priorities for the Budget. We wanted to see a Budget for the millions, not the millionaires. The Coalition Government inherited an unfair tax system from Labour, who in their 13 years hit ordinary working families hardest by abolishing the 10p tax rate while letting tycoons get away with shameless tax avoidance. Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are doing the right thing to clear up the mess Labour left behind, making sure the wealthiest pay their fair share by clamping down on tax avoidance, introducing a 'tycoon tax' and putting an end to stamp duty dodging by the super rich."