James is campaigning for a stronger West Norfolk economy boosting jobs and skills - helping more people into work, cutting taxes, and more homes for local people to rent or buy.
After very tough times due to Covid and the energy price shock, the economy is turning a corner with inflation down, wages rising, taxes being cut for working people, and pensions increased by 8.5%.
Jobs
North West Norfolk has lower unemployment than the national average and leading firms in manufacturing, farming and food production, tourism, and healthcare who are creating jobs locally. James regularly meets with local businesses to understand the challenges they are facing, discuss measures that would boost investment and encourage exports, and infrastructure and skills improvements.
In January 2024, the unemployment rate was 3.1 per cent locally for 16-64 year olds – compared to a 3.7 per cent rate across the UK. But there are still 1600 people locally on unemployment benefits looking for work. Through the "Norfolk for Jobs" campaign, James is working with the local Jobcentre Plus, employers, CWA, and other organisation to support employers to fill their vacancies, understand and provide solutions to the skills challenges employers face, and build a vibrant labour market for all the residents in West Norfolk.
From January 2024, National Insurance has been cut for millions of workers helping them keep more of what they earn.
Homes
In North West Norfolk, 64 per cent of households own their own home, 19 per cent rent privately, and 15.7 per cent rent from a social landlord, with 0.6 per cent in shared ownership. What is clear from talking to constituents is that in the challenging housing market we currently face there’s a particular need for more homes to rent and buy for local people at prices they can afford. New housing development needs to be accompanied by school places, GPs, dentists, and other infrastructure such as the A10 West Winch Housing Access Road.
Many constituents have raised concerns with James about the impact of holiday lets and second homes on local people’s ability to rent or buy. The government has introduced measures to help strike a balance to have sustainable local communities and support tourism with plans for further changes.
One of the Government schemes to help people onto the housing ladder is First Homes helping local people and key workers buy their first home with discounts of up to 30 per cent. A healthy rented sector is a vital part of our housing mix and changes through the Renters Reform Bill will give tenants a better deal while supporting landlords. Renting is often a stepping stone to buying and to help people to build up a deposit James supports further measures to top up people’s savings to help put together a deposit.
Decent homes, in the places people want to live, at prices people can afford, with the services to support them. That simple approach should be the focus of planners and developers with schemes judged against those objectives in West Norfolk and across the country.
