I helped run a hospice, now I fear Rachel Reeves could destroy it

The government's cruel decision to increase National Insurance contributions (NICs) on charities will take effect on April 6. This reckless and irresponsible Jobs Tax will have catastrophic consequences for our charities, who provide critical support to individuals who are facing poverty, illness, and injustice.

After Labour's Budget of Broken Promises, where the Chancellor broke her manifesto commitment not to increase National Insurance, over 7,000 charities came together to warn Labour that the sector's increased National Insurance costs would amount to £1.4 billion a year.

Labour dismissed their concerns, either not knowing or not caring about the damage it would cause. But its impact is already being felt, and it's dire. Many charities have already begun to cut services and make redundancies, and others, like Together for Short Lives and Marie Curie are bracing for millions of pounds in additional costs.

In Parliament, the Conservatives have highlighted the devasting impact of Labour's decisions on our hospices.

Despite the government's pledge to deliver £100 million funding for hospices, voices in the sector have warned that Labour's investment will not cover the additional cost of employer NICs. The truth is, Labour's Jobs Tax will wreck their ability to function effectively, ultimately affecting the range of offers that hospices can provide to vulnerable people, and shamefully, even terminally ill children.

As a former fundraiser in the charity sector, I know that having to find extra income to cover costs is not something you can do overnight. Under the last Conservative government, we provided millions in support for charities during the cost-of-living pressures.

We are committed to protecting charities, hospices and other key frontline services from the NICs rise and in Parliament, we voted to exempt charities from the additional costs of National Insurance increases.

I have seen firsthand the budgets of hospices. They will be pushed to the brink by this huge rise in costs and the last thing charities need is a Jobs Tax which pushes them into the corner.

As we embark on our new Policy Renewal Programme, we are committed to supporting charities and hospices as they continue their vital work.

We will fight for the future of our charity sector in this time of uncertainty and hold this disastrous Labour government to account.