East Wight Conservative MP, Joe Robertson, has led a debate in Parliament on the impact of National Insurance rises on charities. He secured a Westminster Hall Debate which was attended by dozens of MPs of different parties, including the government minister responsible for civil society.
In the 2024 October Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a rise in employer National Insurance Contributions to 15% and a reduction in the threshold salary on which employers have to pay from £9,100 to £5,000.
No exemption for charities
The NHS was exempted from the tax rise, but charities were not.
Mr Robertson, who previously worked for the charity Dementia UK and is a member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, opened the debate by criticising the Government for taxing the very charities it relies on to help deliver public services.
Robertson: Public services and civil society could not operate without charities
Joe Robertson MP said,
“Charities deliver almost £17 billion worth of public services a year. Public services and civil society could not operate without charities. They are responsible for the delivery of a lot of the services that local government is required to deliver.
“In my constituency, the local charity Aspire is currently building, for the first time on the Isle of Wight, accommodation specifically for vulnerable women—and now the Government want £27,000 from it.
“Community Action does amazing things on the Isle of Wight and provides a lot of contracted services for the Isle of Wight council; the Government want £45,000 from it.
“The employment allowance will offset £5,000 of that. The Government will tell us that is what they are giving back, but those are very small returns on the money they are taking.”
The East Wight MP also spoke about Mountbatten Hospice, which he has referred to previously in the House of Commons chamber.
Robertson: Please give charities their money back
Nearly 30 MPs spoke in the debate, including the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper MP, who congratulated the East Wight MP “on securing this important debate”.
After hearing from the Government Minister, Stephanie Peacock MP, who said she would take back the views of MPs to her government colleagues, Mr Robertson closed by asking the Minister to urge the Chancellor directly,
“Please give charities their money back. This is their money.”
YMCA: A huge thank you to Joe for being a voice for organisations like ours
YMCA Isle of Wight posted online after the debate,
“This is an important conversation, and we’re so pleased to see these conversations being highlighted at the highest level.
“A huge thank you to Joe for being a voice for organisations like ours.”
Watch the full debate
News shared by the office of Joe Robertson, in their own words. Ed
