Reaction to Chancellor's Spring Budget
We've been asking for the thoughts of those in our area, on how yesterday's announcements will affect us
Last updated 16th Apr 2024
We've been getting local reaction to the Chancellor's Spring Budget.
Jeremy Hunt confirmed a 2p National Insurance cut and a freeze on fuel duty.
Ian Barnett, from Michael Stephens Accountancy, in Worcester, said: “The only thing that's going to affect the majority of people is the National Insurance cut.
"Keeping the personal allowances frozen means everybody will pay a little bit more tax this year, whether that will be offset by the National Insurance cut depends on how much you earn.
"People will see more money into their payroll or into their pay packet, but obviously they're not going to gain anything from any upgrade in the personal allowance.
"So yes, they're going to see more money in their pay packet, but they're not going to see necessarily the effect of freezing the personal allowances still.
“I would have liked to see more help for the young buyers first time buyers, I've got a son that's looking to get on the ladder and it's not really going to help him at all.”
Plans announced in the Cudget would see a tax introduced in 2026, with more being paid if your vape has a high nicotine level.
Jordon Chambers is Product Manager at a vape shop, Connect 2 Vapes, in Worcester. He said: “About 80% of our customers at the moment are ex-smokers, and the conversations we have with them is the fact that tobacco prices are too high so they need a cheaper alternative, which turns them to vaping.
“An increase in tax on this is perfect, we monitor who comes in and buys our vapes anyway so we can stop underage people from buying them, but if they can’t afford it in the first place it not only makes our job easier, but it means it’s also going to be healthier for them.
“We already know that a lot of people are coming off smoking and onto vaping, but the only thing we would also like to be see done more is decrease the amount of nicotine in vapes so that it could make vaping that bit more safe.”
MP for West Worcestershire, Harriet Baldwin, gave her reaction to the vaping laws and the freeze on fuel duty: "Vapes do have a valuable role to play in helping people already smoking to get off cigarettes, which are very damaging, but a tax on vapes will also prevent children from adopting vapes.
"I think that's important because obviously the health of the nation is incredibly important.
"Vaping is obviously better than smoking, so it's a good route for people to come off the cigarettes, but you also don't want children to take up vaping so that's why that tax is being introduced.
"Across Hereford and Worcestershire, we do rely quite a lot on our cars, so I think drivers will really welcome the fact that the five pence of fuel duty is being extended for another year."