As you know, the Budget on 26th November sets out the Chancellor’s plans. I wanted to send you some information about our focus on tackling the cost of living, strengthening public services, and reducing debt and borrowing.

In summary, the Budget will benefit people in Croydon West by:

• Scrapping the two-child limit to Universal Credit, helping 4,680 local children
• Permanent business rates cuts supporting nearly 4,000 Croydon businesses
• £1.5 million Pride in Place funding for local regeneration
• Around £150 off average energy bills from April 2026 (up to £300 for lower-income households)
• A freeze on rail fares, helping daily commuters across Croydon
• Extra NHS funding, including upgrades to local GP surgeries
• Free school meals and expanded breakfast clubs for children who need them most
• A pay rise for thousands of workers through increases in the minimum and living wage

Watch my video here.

Help with the Cost of Living

Supporting families

• The two-child limit on Universal Credit will be scrapped, lifting 450,000 children out of poverty nationwide, including 4,680 young people in Croydon West. Every child deserves the chance to thrive, and their future should never be defined by the circumstances they’re born into. This step is fully funded through a new gambling levy.
• Breakfast clubs are being expanded with many primary schools in Croydon West eligible to apply, alongside free school meals for all children whose parents receive Universal Credit. These breakfast clubs save families up to £450 and 95 hours in childcare costs.

Backing workers

• 2.7 million workers will receive a pay rise through increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, including workers right here in Croydon West.
• 18-21-year-olds will be offered a guaranteed six-month work placement, helping more young people into employment and training.

Household bills and transport

• Energy bills are expected to fall by around £150 a year from April 2026, rising to £300 for lower-income households.
• Train fares will be frozen nationwide for the first time in 30 years, making commuting more affordable for people using services like Southern and Thameslink.
• Prescription charges will stay frozen for another year, helping residents across Croydon West.
• The State Pension will rise by up to £575 a year, keeping the Government’s promise on the Triple Lock.

Strengthening the NHS Locally

Making sure constituents receive the care they need remains one of my top priorities. I meet regularly with the leadership at Croydon University Hospital and visit local GPs, who do incredible work every single day. I am always looking for ways to help them and ensure they have what they need to deliver the best care. Many constituents write to me about healthcare concerns, and I work closely with local hospitals to resolve these issues.

This Budget builds on record investment and the progress we’ve already made:

• 5.2 million extra NHS appointments nationally have been delivered nationally since the election.
• 250 new Neighbourhood Health Centres are being developed to bring services closer to home.
• An additional £15 billion a year by 2028–29 will help us reach the goal that 92% of patients start treatment within 18 weeks by the end of this Parliament.
• The NHS will receive an over £15bn real terms increase in annual resource budgets by 2028-29

Local GP services are benefiting from upgrades funded through the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund, including:

• London Road Medical Practice
• Thornton Road & Valley Park Surgery

This investment will improve facilities and help deliver better care locally. I will always stand up for our local health services.

Pride in Place funding – Investment for Croydon

The Government recently announced a significant investment of £1.5 million in Croydon. This is aimed at improving the places and spaces that matter most to us, helping ensure that our public spaces, community facilities, and town centres reflect the pride we all feel for where we live.

It’s part of the Government’s Pride in Place program which is about empowering local communities to improve their neighbourhoods. So, the £1.5 million coming to Croydon needs to be locally led – shaped by our community’s ideas and priorities.

We need to make sure that Croydon Council spends the money on what the borough really needs, which is why I’m asking for your ideas on how we can make the most of this funding – what changes would you like to see? Share your thoughts by filling in the survey here or email me at [email protected].

A More Stable Economy

This Budget goes further to strengthen the economy by rejecting austerity and avoiding reckless borrowing. The focus is on stability, putting public finances on a stronger footing while supporting growth. And we are already seeing results:

• Economic growth this year has been upgraded to 1.5%, beating expectations.
• Wages have risen more in the first year of this Parliament than in the entire previous decade.
• Borrowing is falling year on year, and interest rates have been cut five times since the election, easing pressure on mortgages and household budgets.
• The Government has doubled its headroom against fiscal rules, giving us greater stability for the future.
• Government borrowing is set to fall faster than any other G7 economy
• £400 million recovered from fraudulent Covid spending

Investing in Policing

I hear from many residents who are worried about crime and antisocial behaviour, and I want everyone in Croydon to feel safe.

That is why police spending power will rise by an average of 2.3% per year in real terms. This extra funding will help maintain strong frontline policing across England. We are recruiting more police officers, community support officers and special constables, with 3,000 new posts to be filled by April 2026.

We are strengthening neighbourhood policing so every area has a named, contactable team. More officers are being deployed across Croydon because I know people want a visible and consistent presence.

As your MP and as Minister for Policing and Crime, I have been meeting regularly with residents, local police teams, the Violence Reduction Unit, charities and the Croydon Council to push for joined-up action. I’ve also taken part in walkabouts with officers, businesses and residents to see first-hand where improvements are needed.

Fly-tipping is one of the big issues residents raise often. I’m still calling for Mega Skip Days to help people dispose of waste, stricter fines for offenders and a borough-wide strategy. Nationally, Labour is cracking down on waste crime with tougher penalties, vehicle seizures and new technology to stop illegal dumping.

There is more to do, and I will keep pushing until everyone in Croydon feels safer.

Standing up for Croydon West

This Budget makes fair and necessary choices to build a stronger, fairer country, where living standards rise, child poverty falls and public services are renewed.

There is a lot more work to do, but these measures provide real support for families in Croydon West, while continuing long-term investment in the services our community relies on.

As always, I am interested in listening to your concerns and working to make sure our area receives its fair share of support.

If you have any questions about this update or would like to share your views, please do get in touch by emailing [email protected].

To stay updated on my work in Croydon West and in Parliament, please sign up to my newsletter at sarah-jones.org.