Tory MP Says She Will NOT Vote Through Philip Hammond’s Budget

31 October 2018, 07:31 | Updated: 31 October 2018, 07:49

A Conservative MP has told LBC she will not vote through Philip Hammond’s Budget.

Dr Sarah Wollaston said she would abstain from the vote for a “variety of reasons”, but insisted it had nothing to do with her criticisms of Brexit.

The MP for Totnes was critical of the chancellor’s decision to raise the income tax threshold a year early.

“I don’t think it was the right priority,” she told Tom Swarbrick on Tuesday night.

“It would have been the right time to level with the public to say ‘we are making this extra commitment to health, but that means we’re all going to have to be prepared to contribute a bit more to that’.

“I think the public were ready to have that conversation.”

Sarah Wollaston says she will not vote through Philip Hammond's Budget
Sarah Wollaston says she will not vote through Philip Hammond's Budget. Picture: LBC/PA

- The Budget 2018: Find Out How It Will Affect You

Tom asked Dr Wollaston: “You’ll still vote for the Budget won’t you?”

“I will abstain on the Budget,” the Tory MP replied.

“I think for a variety of reasons, I’m also very concerned about the failure to bring forward the changes to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.

“There is a very strong case that this crack cocaine of gambling… is something we know we have to tackle, there’s been a promise to tackle it… I don’t see why that should be delayed.”

Asked whether there were any other Tory MPs also considering abstaining, Dr Wollaston responded: "I don't know".

More Tom Swarbrick

See more More Tom Swarbrick

'It's fanaticism, it has to be stopped'

Israel's strikes on Iran divide opinion with LBC callers

Caller forced to apologise over false claims about Muslims

LBC caller forced to apologise over false claims about Muslims

Brits flock to Dubai to avoid tax hikes, but are they 'forgoing their British values'?

Brits flock to Dubai to avoid tax hikes, but are they 'forgoing their British values'?

ULEZ

Dwayne refuses to fight for Britain because he's sick of ULEZ

'I wouldn't mind being an LBC presenter'

Tom Swarbrick ‘offers’ caller Lee a job

Should Lucy Connolly be freed early?

Should Lucy Connolly be let out of prison early? LBC callers deliver their verdict

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

LBC callers react to Trump's trade deal

LBC callers react to Donald Trump's UK trade deal

Eric

Caller Eric brands it 'disgusting' that woman got £30k compensation for being compared to Darth Vader

Caller can’t get a dentist appointment and blames asylum seekers

LBC caller can’t get a dentist appointment and blames asylum seekers

'we can hit net zero by accident'

Kneecap, Reform's 'turquoise tidal wave' and never leaving the UK | LBC's best callers of the week

Oliver

Ex-army caller says Chris Kaba's murder has been made 'political'

Caller Lee believes the treatment of Kneecap is 'two-tier policing'

Caller Lee believes the treatment of Kneecap is 'two-tier policing'

Scientist behind 'alien planet' discovery takes questions from LBC callers

Scientist behind 'alien planet' discovery takes questions from LBC callers

Exclusive
Yevgeny Popov

Russian MP tells LBC Starmer ‘doesn’t want peace’ and says Putin won’t rule out launching another war

It's time to Make Broccoli Great Again

It's time to Make Broccoli Great Again