MP accused of spreading misinformation says Police and Crime Commissioner is “financially illiterate or politically blinkered”

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AN MP accused of spreading misinformation over National Insurance increases costing Cheshire Constabulary £3.7m has hit back, saying Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is “financially illiterate or politically blinkered.”

It follows a statement by Tatton MP Esther McVey, who raised concerns after uncovering a rise of £3.7m in National Insurance costs for Cheshire Police following a Freedom of Information request – money she says would be better spent on frontline policing.

In response to Ms McVey’s statement Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, Dan Price responded: “I want to set the record straight on reports that National Insurance increases are costing Cheshire Constabulary £3.7m. This is in fact totally untrue. The Constabulary has received a grant from the Home Office that fully covers the increases, as widely reported by the media at the end of last year – Home Secretary reveals police forces to be ‘compensated’ for national insurance rise | Politics News | Sky News
“I met with Esther McVey last week as part of our regular catch-ups and I would have been happy to clarify the situation if she had spoken to me about it.
“Spreading misinformation is unhelpful and can damage public confidence in the police. I would welcome more thorough fact checking before issuing statements like this.

But the Tatton MP responded: “The government giving money to Cheshire Police to pay a tax bill is money that should have been spent on new frontline officers. I am sorry that our Labour Police and Crime Commissioner is either so financially illiterate or politically blinkered to be unable to see the blindingly obvious.
“Clearly he thinks getting extra money to pay a tax bill imposed by his own Party is better than being able to spend it on new Police officers.”

As reported by Warrington Worldwide yesterday, The Tatton MP, who represents the Lymm area of Warrington, says Cheshire Police will be forced to find millions of pounds of additional cash as a result of the government’s tax raid – money that should be spent on frontline policing.
Ms McVey sent a Freedom of Information request inquiring how much extra the Cheshire Constabulary would have to pay in taxes as a direct consequence of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ changes to Employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs).
Cheshire Constabulary confirmed the rise will cost the force £3.7million in 2025/26.


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