‘Tough times ahead but give government a chance’

The next few years will be tough but the government should be given the chance to turn things around.

This was the view of Nuneaton residents after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget, raising taxes by £40bn through an increase in National Insurance contributions for employers from April.

Rates of income tax and National Insurance (NI) paid by employees will remain unchanged.

The constituency of Nuneaton has historically been considered a bellwether, meaning it usually votes for the winning party in general elections. Small business owner Gin Sidhu said the measures would affect everyone.

“Our clientele is of the more senior age group. The cutbacks to their incomes is where it will effect our business,” the 49-year-old, who runs markets across the Midlands, said.

She was referring to the decision to means test the winter fuel payment for pensioners, a move announced prior to budget.

“The government needs to get this extra income,” she added. “We’ve got to give them a chance to get through their ideas and policies.”

Bob Sidhu said he was feeling optimistic.

“People are going to keep pockets and budgets a bit tight. Let’s ride out the storm and see what this government can do.”

Mark Burdett, 57, took early retirement on health grounds. He welcomed a move to compensate victims of the infected blood scandal and wrongly prosecuted Post Office sub-postmasters.

But he said he wanted the chancellor to go further on the minimum wage.

“You cannot run a flat on minimum wage,” he said.

“Even ten years ago you couldn’t do it. With the cost of living there’s no way. People in work are having to go to food banks.”

Sioux Watkins, who runs community group Guardians Grow, spoke from the charity’s Makery cafe, where she said she was helping desperate people day in day out.

She described the chancellor’s desire to cut the country’s welfare bill as scary, and said claiming benefits was not a lifestyle choice.

“We’re already supporting people on the breadline,” Ms Watkins said. “Reducing the benefit bill could be catastrophic.

“It’s great to want to get everybody working but not everybody can. What are they going to do to help people that can’t go to work?”

Wheelchair user John Smith, 45, who volunteers at the bakery, said he was currently unemployed.

He would like to return to work part time, but would find it difficult to do five days a week.

“There are people out there that don’t need to be on benefits but there are a lot of people who try to claim and get turned down,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be tough for some people if they haven’t got money or savings to fall back on.”