Off The Fence with Alan Mak MP: No Christmas cheer under Labour

I condemned and voted against Labour’s Autumn Budget, a £26 billion tax raid that punishes families, pensioners, small businesses and savers in the Havant Constituency.

I've also called on the Government to apologise to pensioners for its handling of the Winter Fuel Payment fiasco.

Supported by residents, I campaigned against Labour’s removal of the payment. A partial u-turn followed, but many local pensioners are still missing out.

If you agree Labour should say sorry for its original disastrous decision, sign my petition at www.AlanMak.org.uk/WinterFuelApology

I've always been a big supporter of small businesses and, ahead of Small Business Saturday earlier this month, I visited Le Petit Pain in Emsworth, Isaac Family Butchers on Hayling Island, Viking Prints and Zoom Barbers in Leigh Park and 1st Quay Fish & Chips in Widley.

But Labour’s tax-raising Budget makes life more difficult for independent traders. The Conservatives will abolish business rates for high street shops and pubs if we win the next General Election.

Earlier this year we succeeded in getting Labour-led Havant Borough Council to think again after it proposed to introduce charges at various free car parks. Plus it wanted to bring in charges across all HBC car parks on Sundays and bank holidays.

But now the Council's car park cash grab is back on the agenda. If you agree with me that it must reconsider, please sign my petition at www.alanmak.org.uk/ParkingCharges

Looking ahead to 2026, I'll be organising more Q&A public meetings, and my three popular community fairs - my11th annual Community & Volunteering Fair, my 5th annual Health & Sports Fair and my 11th annual Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair.

For dates and venues, please sign up to my e-newsletter at www.alanmak.org.uk/newsletter

Would you like to go on a tour of Parliament and meet me for a Q&A session? More tours are being organised in 2026. Please register your interest at www.alanmak.org.uk/Tours

The best ways to stay up to date with the work I'm doing as your local MP all year round are to follow my social media accounts, especially Facebook ( www.fb.com/AlanMakHavant), and sign up for my weekly residents' email newsletter.

Finally, I'm providing free St. George and Union flags to constituents. To get yours, apply online at http://www.alanmak.org.uk/Flag

You can also share your views on local and national issues with me by completing my online survey at www.alanmak.org.uk/survey

May I end by wishing you all a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!

Alan Mak, Member of Parliament for the Havant Constituency