IT HAS been billed as a Budget that shows Britain is “walking tall again” by some, and one that shows the country “isn’t being run in the interest of most people” by others.
Chancellor George Osborne took the floor at the House of Commons to announce his final Budget ahead of May 7’s General Election.
Among the measures announced were plans to allow pensioners to cash in on their annuities, raise the tax-free personal allowance and a new “Help to Buy” ISA for first-time buyers where the Government will pay in £50 for every £200 saved for a deposit.
Other measures included cuts in duty for certain alcohols and a freeze in fuel duty.
The Chancellor said that there are now more people employed in the UK than ever before while quoted Office for Budget Responsibility figures that say living standards are now “higher” than in 2010.
Unsurprisingly his speech divided opinion among Hampshire’s MPs.
Outgoing Conservative Fareham MP Mark Hoban (pictured above) responded to criticism from Labour that the Government was not committed to helping the majority, saying: “The fact that we have again raised the personal allowance is a tax cut for 27m people and demonstrates our commitment for reducing the tax burden on the lowest-paid.
“The Chancellor also announced that the top one per cent paid more income tax than they did under the last Labour Government, so we are helping the poorest in society and at the same time making sure that those with the broadest shoulders pay the most.”
His colleague, Winchester MP Steve Brine, (pictured above) said there was a “clear choice” ahead of the election, adding: “We have more jobs than we have had before, living standards and rising and we are on the right track.”
Conservative Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes (pictured above) welcomed the news that £60m of funding would be brought forward to help the Environment Agency look into flood defences in areas such as Romsey and Winchester.
She added: “We want to reward hard work and saving, so the new personal savings allowance and the raising of the personal tax free allowance are both very good news.”
However Labour have criticised the Budget, with Southampton Itchen MP John Denham (pictured above) saying: Mr Osborne had “failed” on his promise to get rid of the deficit.
He added: “People have seen their living standards fall and know how hard it is for their children to get good jobs or find somewhere to rent or buy.
“I think people have a very strong sense that this is a Government that is run by a few people at the top and isn’t run in the interests of most people, and I don’t think this budget will do anything to change that.”
And Labour colleague, Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead (pictured above) added: “I think it’s a budget that is unbelievable and is built on claims that simply don’t relate to reality.”
Liberal Democrat Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton (pictured above) said: “I am particularly pleased with the £1.25billion for mental health and the increase of the tax allowance.
“Both are Lib Dem policies. The new savings regime is welcome and the Help to Buy ISA looks interesting.”
Green candidate for Southampton Itchen John Spottiswoode added: “There was a missed opportunity by giving tax breaks to the oil and gas industry as opposed to renewable.
“And they have failed to do anything about the massive housing crisis, which is a big issue in Southampton.”
And UKIP’s candidate for Eastleigh, Patricia Culligan, (pictured above) added: “I thought it was a shaky pre-election budget and it seems to me there is an awful lot of aiming at pacifying the silver vote that the Tories want to cling on to.
“I also think the housing crisis is an issue that has been skirted over.”
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