'Labour's NI tax hike will hurt hospices'❜ warns MP

VITAL services for terminally-ill children and their parents will be damaged by Labour's National Insurance tax hike, according to a senior MP who previously oversaw fundraising for a hospice.

- Jonathan Walker

Stuart Andrew was a manager at Martin House Children's Hospice in Boston Spa, Yorkshire before becoming an MP in 2010.

Now, the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is calling for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to consider the harm her decision to increase employer National Insurance contributions, which adds to the cost of employing staff, will do to the voluntary sector.

He said: "This is going to have a fundamental effect on charities that provide some of the most important services to people most in need." Mr Andrew said if the Government was determined to press ahead with the policy, it should consider making charities and voluntary organisations exempt.

And he warned that children's hospices would be hit hard because they required high staffing levels to meet the needs of youngsters and their parents.

"It's about sharing that journey with that family over the lifetime of the child.