There can be no growth without investment and reform and the budget fails on both.

Labour’s leader in Leicestershire and parliamentary candidate for North West Leicestershire, Cllr Amanda Hack, has responded to the Chancellor’s budget statement:

“Given the state of Britain today, people in North West Leicestershire, like me, will be disappointed with a lacklustre budget from a Chancellor who has run out of road.

At first glance, this looks like a dangerous cocktail of tax tinkering and more public spending cuts. It does nothing for those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and risks dragging our country deeper into recession.

There can be no growth without investment. Without a proper growth plan, we will not improve NHS waiting times, convict more criminals, clean up our rivers, or fix anything else people worry about. Productivity in both the private and public sectors needs an urgent boost. This requires both reform and investment. Today’s budget contains nothing of substance on either. You have to invest to improve.

The Conservatives want us to look at this budget in isolation, but I don’t think people are fooled. They know this was a budget for an election in 2024 rather than a serious attempt to stimulate the economy. But, after 14 years of chaotic economic mismanagement, the NI and Child Benefit measures are totally overshadowed by soaring rents, mortgages, food costs and the highest tax bills in 70 years.

It was a flat budget from a failing government.

What our country needs above all else is a General Election. I’m ready to go on Thursday, 2 May, but I’m not holding my breath after today’s performance by the Chancellor.”