Cross-Party Bid to Oppose Tax Office Closures Voted Down in Commons

A cross-party bid requesting the Government reconsiders plans to close tax offices across the country – including Wrexham’s – has been voted down in the Houses of Parliament.

Earlier this month HMRC announced plans to close a number of its branches across the country, favouring ‘regional hubs’ over what they described as ‘expensive, isolated and outdated offices’.

The news came as a blow to workers in Wrexham, with 350 jobs at the local branch set to be lost from the area by 2020. Branches in Porthmadog and Swansea will also close in the next few years, with Cardiff chosen as the regional branch for Wales – however there will also be a regional branch in Liverpool, which could also serve the Wrexham area.

Wrexham’s MP Ian Lucas was among MPs who spoke in the debate, secured by the Scottish National Party, to ask the Government to reconsider its plans. Mr Lucas and fellow Labour MPs were joined by Plaid Cymru, SNP, UUP, DUP, Conservative, Lib Dem and Independent MPs in calling on the Government to change their mind – but their bid was opposed by Conservative Ministers and backbenchers.

During the debate, Mr Lucas told the House: “Never has there been a sharper contrast between rhetoric and reality. This Government supposedly talk about rebalancing the economy. Other colleagues in the Chamber have made the point that the sites identified and set out in the letter that was sent to us do not yet exist. This was an ideal opportunity for the Government to take a sensible approach to rebalancing the economy with taxpayers’ money, by shifting jobs out of areas that are economically successful and expensive, such as London or Cardiff, to other areas, such as north Wales.”

He added: “This Government do not know their backside from their elbow. They do not recognise that already we have 350 highly skilled people in Wrexham who are doing an excellent job.

“In addition, we have people in the local economy who have been identified by the private sector as being particularly skilled at providing exactly the services that this Government or any Government need to bring in more money to eliminate the deficit that the Minister told us in 2010 would be gone by today but is still there because of the economic incompetence of the Tory party.”

The decision to close HMRC branches across the country has been met with strong criticism from unions, politicians and locals, with the loss of 350 jobs in Wrexham seen as a major loss to the area and local economy.

Last week Wrexham.com reported that a petition calling for the government to reconsider the closure of the north Wales branches was launched by Plaid Cymru Candidate for the Welsh Assembly Elections, Carrie Harper.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Lucas said: “MPs from across the country and across the political spectrum came together in this debate to point out the folly of the Government’s plans.
“A number of MPs noted that the Government plan to close offices such as Wrexham’s – without having a specific site for the centre which they want to replace it. That makes no business or economic sense.

“It was heartening to see MPs on all sides of the House stand up to these proposals. Sadly, Conservative MPs – including those from North Wales and along the English border – lined up with the Government, and the motion was defeated.

“However, I intend to keep challenging this decision in Parliament – and making the case for Wrexham to the Government.”

Mr Lucas’ speech can be viewed in full here.

*Picture – Parliament TV