Romsey residents comment on Labour's Autumn Budget

But what do the residents of Romsey think about Rachel Reeves' plan to steer the country out of these dire economic?

The Advertiser has spoken to four locals to get their ideas on how it might impact them and others around the UK.

Dave Newman, 55, who works in electrical wholesaling said: "Personally, I don't think there's going to be a lot of change, to be honest. I know fuel duty is going to go down slightly.

READ MORE: ‘Budget not something I want to repeat ever again’ – Reeves

Stephen Horsley, 89 (Image: Sebastian Haw) "Myself and my wife both work full time and we've both got cars – we need them, so that's good."

Dave also feels that the budget will help people struggling financially. "Obviously, the ones that haven't got a lot of money, quite rightly, get more," he said.

Bob and Ann Mander, 73 and 67, were not concerned about the impact the budget will have on them, but they do feel it is a step in the right direction.

Bob said: "I think it will impact us very little. But the main thing is that it's going to help the health service, local government and working people.

"We've got confused by 14 years of politics the other way. This is a very restricted budget: no fiddly bits, no rabbits out of the hat."

Ann added: "It's needed to put things right across the country."

Ex-army man Stephen Horsley, 89, who served in Northern Ireland was unimpressed by Reeves's measures.

SEE ALSO: Papers react to Labour’s Budget ‘gamble’

Bob and Ann Mander, 73 and 67 (Image: Sebastian Haw) "It's a load of rubbish," said Stephen. "The budget didn't really mean much to me, other than I was getting an allowance and I won't get it now."

He added: "In a nutshell, the budget – how the hell can they spend all that money? I won't be around. I just feel sorry for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren."

Bournemouth resident Michael Parking, 73, feels the Labour government could have been straighter with the public during its election campaign in spring.

He said: “To be honest with you, they’re not doing what they said they were going to do in the manifesto. They never said they were going to increase tax prices or capital gains.

"So, they really need to be accountable for what they’ve done in the manifesto. If you intend to put the income tax up, you should have said that in your manifesto, not wait until you’ve got into parliament then decide to put it up, which is why I think a lot of people are angry about that."

The Conservative leader of Hampshire County Council, Nick Adams-King, described the budget as "deeply disappointing".

He said: "The extra £1.3 billion for local government is like a few grains of sand when distributed across England but the fact the government has said it will be targeted means we cannot rely on it and I fear much will go to the midlands and the north."

Elsewhere, Geoff Cooper, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Romsey and Southampton North, said: “Labour’s first budget since 2010 has brought considerable tax rises, large spending commitments and big borrowing with a promise to ‘invest, invest, invest’.

"The tax increases are not a surprise, given the economic mismanagement by the previous Conservative government and the vast amount of prebudget signposting that took place."

 Ross McNally, chief executive of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, also commented on the budget.

He said: “Because of the widely recognised shortfall in public finances, it was clear this budget would mean higher costs for our members and other businesses and that is indeed what we now face.

“From higher National Insurance contributions for employers to capital gain tax increases for individuals and firms, a range of changes and measures will make this year a real challenge."