Layla Moran celebrates triple win for Oxford West & Abingdon in the Budget but slams missed opportunity for growth.

Missed Opportunity for Growth. 

Independent research has found that UK tax revenue is down by up to £90bn a year due to the economic hit from Brexit. Yet the Chancellor mentioned Brexit just once in her statement - and failed to announce plans for a new bespoke Customs Union with the EU, which the Lib Dems had been pushing for. 

Layla also expressed disappointment that the Chancellor did not go further in delivering meaningful support for struggling small businesses, and refused to cut VAT for hospitality. At a time when businesses are closing their doors and jobs are at risk in the sector, an emergency VAT cut until April 2027 would have provided much needed relief to local high streets and protected jobs.

Layla commented: 

“The Chancellor has diagnosed the disease but refused to deliver the obvious cure. Labour promised to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and grow the economy—yet this is their second budget failing to do either. For millions struggling to make ends meet, all this budget really offers is one thing: higher taxes.

“The Conservatives left the UK’s finances in a terrible state for families and small businesses in Oxfordshire. We wanted bold decisions, instead the Government has hit them again with more taxes."

Layla's 3 Wins

Layla did though celebrate three wins announced in last week’s Budget, after the Chancellor announced the lifting of the two-child benefit cap, changes to SEND funding and the near doubling of the Remote Gaming Duty. 

Ahead of the budget, Layla Moran wrote two letters to the Chancellor, calling for action on the Cost of Living including scrapping the two-child benefit cap, and action to fund SEND. Meanwhile doubling the Remote Gaming Duty has long been Liberal Democrat policy. 

The cruel two-child benefit cap had left hundreds of thousands of children in poverty, including over 1,000 in Oxford West & Abingdon. Government forecasts estimate that that lifting the cap will lead to around 500,000 children being lifted from poverty. 

The removal of the cap was a core pledge in the 2024 Liberal Democrat manifesto. In Parliament, Layla voted for the removal of the cap in September 2025 and supported an Early Day Motion calling for the cap to be lifted. 

Another measure which Layla has pushed the Chancellor to review is the funding model for SEND provisions. Currently, the burden to fund deficits in SEND provisions fall on local authorities, eating away at their reserves. Oxfordshire County Council expect the SEND provision deficit to reach £153 million by March 2026. 

Layla and the Liberal Democrats welcome the Government’s announcement that SEND costs will be absorbed by central government from 2028 but are calling on Rachel Reeves to provide more clarity for local authorities on how they can address the shortfalls in the meantime.  

In her capacity as Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, Layla has taken an interest in the harms which online gambling can have on so many people. The Committee wrote to the Government in May 2025, calling on increased prevention and regulatory measures to help limit the effects of online gambling. 

The increase in Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40% is hugely welcomed by Layla and will go a long way in improving the lives of those harmed by online gaming. 

Layla Moran MP said on these wins: 

“I am pleased to see the Chancellor take these measures which I have long campaigned for.

The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned to remove the cruel two-child benefit cap and see funding for SEND provision improved. I also welcome the increase Remote Gaming Duty to tackle the harmful effects of online gaming, which have been exposed by Health and Social Care Committee.  

However, the Chancellor missed an opportunity to boost Britian’s high street’s by following the Lib Dem plans for a 5% VAT cut for hospitality business, which I called for on my visit to the Covered Market in Oxford last week.”