Henry Smith MP column, RH Uncovered Magazine, May 2016
In May 2015, I was honoured to be re-elected as Crawley’s Member of Parliament.
A key manifesto pledge that I campaigned on has now been delivered – a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, which will take place on Thursday, 23rd June. I will be voting to leave because I believe it is time to restore British freedoms, self-determination and our global outlook.
I have been pleased to work alongside other local MPs to press the Government on the issue of school funding. West Sussex currently is one of the lowest funded areas under an over decade-old unfair formula.
A new, national funding system will be introduced and I am pleased that the majority Conservative government are keeping this election commitment – work continues on this matter as the public consultation comes to a close.
Work also progresses on ensuring there are more than three million new apprentices across the UK by 2020. Earlier this year I was pleased to host the Crawley Apprenticeship & Jobs Fair to help local students be a part of this.
From April 2017, the tax-free Personal Allowance will increase to £11,500 – a tax cut for 31 million people across our country, meaning that a typical basic rate taxpayer will be paying over £1,000 less in income tax compared to 2010.
If I may be able to assist, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Henry Smith MP
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
www.henrysmith.info