East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds has welcomed the new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s Growth Plan, including measures to tackle the energy crisis.

As well as introducing the Energy Price Guarantee, ensuring the average household pays no more than £2,500 a year for their energy bills for the next two years, the government will also support working families by cutting the basic rate of income tax to 19p next year.

And commenting on plans to boost housing, Mr Hinds said: “The cost of housing in East Hampshire is a barrier for many hoping to get onto the property ladder.

“I welcome the move to reduce stamp duty charges, and in particular the increase to the nil-band band for first time buyers to £450,000.

“Plans to increase the housing supply through planning reforms should also help more people become homeowners.”