A CUMBRIAN Conservative candidate has welcomed the party's general election manifesto, following its launch earlier this week.

Conservative candidate for Penrith and Solway Mark Jenkinson welcomed the launch of the Conservative Party’s 2024 election manifesto.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak launched the Conservative Party general election manifesto in Silverstone on June 11.

As part of their blueprint to 'support working people' and build a 'strong economy', the Conservatives have pledged to abolish the main rate of National Insurance for the self-employed.

The party laid out plans that the main rate of Class 4 NICs will fall to 5 per cent in April 2025, 4 per cent in April 2026, 3 per cent in April 2027 and 2 per cent in April 2028, before being scrapped altogether in April 2029.

The manifesto also says that two million self-employed people will benefit and take 93 per cent of self-employed people out of paying Class 4 NICs.

Mark Jenkinson, the former MP for Workington, and the Conservative candidate for Penrith and Solway, said: “This is great news for the self-employed, for employers and employees, and, indeed, all those who work for a living.

“It is working people who keep our country going – and who provide goods and vital services. It is right that they should keep more of their own money. 

“The choice is clear in this election: stick with the plan to cut taxes and ensure people keep more of what they have earned with Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives or go back to square one with Keir Starmer and the same old Labour Party who will raise taxes by £2,094.

“The UK has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years caused by the pandemic and Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. But despite all this, the Conservatives have restored economic stability, reduced inflation, boosted wages, created more jobs, cut taxes, and increased growth.”

Other candidates standing for the Penrith and Solway constituency in the General Election are :

  • AGLIONBY, Julia Catherine Weir (Liberal Democrats)
  • CAMPBELL - SAVOURS, Markus Dale (Labour)
  • DENHAM - SMITH, Susan Jane (The Green Party)
  • IVINSON, Roy (Independent)
  • JOHNSTON, Chris (Independent)
  • LONG, Shaun Keith (Social Democratic Party)
  • MOODY, Matthew (Reform UK)