THE people of Romsey have had their say on the chancellor's latest budget. 

Jeremy Hunt said tax cuts would offer “much needed help in challenging times” and stimulate economic growth as he set out budget plans for pre-election giveaways.

Mr Hunt made a 2p cut in national insurance for workers and the self-employed the centrepiece of a tax-cutting budget.

He also set out a series of measures aimed at helping hard-pressed households, including; changing the way child benefit is treated, with the individual earnings threshold at which it is taxed increasing from £50,000 to £60,000 from April; freezing fuel duty and extending the “temporary” 5p cut for a further 12 months; a freeze in alcohol duty to February 1 2025; and extending the Household Support Fund with an extra £500 million.

He also pledged to increase public sector productivity, including a package of NHS reforms which would “slash the 13 million hours lost by doctors and nurses every year” as a result of obsolete IT systems with a £3.4 billion investment.

For businesses, Mr Hunt increased the threshold at which small firms have to register for VAT from £85,000 to £90,000.

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Hampshire Chronicle: Romsey budget reaction

Genevieve Reynolds, of West Wellow, said: “For people who aren't paying national insurance, on a lower income, it is a complete waste of time so it isn't helping the people it's meant to be helping. The freeze on alcohol duty is killing the majority of the population. I know it's helping pub owners, but it's not helping the rest of the country which will cost the NHS even more in the long run.”

Nigel Nicholson, former Romsey town councillor, said: “It's quite interesting they are going on about the National Health Service and computers. If you go to a hospital, they don't have the records that the GP has, so you have to tell them. They don't link and that's what they're talking about here, the ability to link so it works.”

Geoff Cooper, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Romsey, said: “People will not be fooled by this Conservative government, in the death throes of their time in power. They are desperately attempting to buy the next election with little tax sweeteners, at the expense of our public services and the economic growth the country urgently needs. 

“Cutting taxes on its own will not stimulate the economy."