THE leader of Hampshire County Council has said the Budget was "deeply disappointing" for the council, for local growth and for our businesses".

Councillor Nick Adams-King said that the extra £1.3 billion for local government is "like a few grains of sand" when distributed across England, and "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".

Nick Adams-KingNick Adams-King

Cllr Adams-King said: "Instead, we will have to grapple with added costs due to this budget. The huge increase in employer National Insurance contributions will cost the council millions, and while Government say it is funded, that is part of the extra local government funding so is in effect an extra burden.

"The effect of the national living wage rising way above inflation will also likely increase our costs substantially. We simply cannot afford this.

"I just don’t see how this government is investing for growth in Hampshire. It has announced it will cease funding for the functions previously delivered by Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Business Board Network. A consultation on ending funding for pan-regional partnerships is also now going to happen. None of this will drive good, local economic decision making.

"Junction 8 of the M27 is now forever cancelled as an ‘unfunded and unaffordable’ in another blow to our local economy and infrastructure."

He is also "hugely concerned" for farmers, who he says "have been treated terribly by the budget".

He added: "As a former small business owner, I am also horrified for those who own their own businesses - they are the backbone of our local economy and must be devastated. I think the national insurance tax raid on working people and businesses will be disastrous, in Hampshire and across the country."