'People will not feel effect of budget'

Nikki & Duane Barrett of Affordable Food Stoke

Announcements made in the Budget will not benefit the average working person, according to the co-founder of a Stoke-on-Trent food charity.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled a range of measures on Wednesday, including cutting national insurance by 2p in the pound, and extending the household support fund.

Although that was a "good thing," people would not feel the effect due to the high cost of food, energy, rents and mortgages, said Nikki Barrett from Affordable Food Stoke.

The charity's chief executive officer said she felt a "little underwhelmed" by what had been announced in the last scheduled Budget before the next general election.

The Chancellor said the National Insurance cut, to begin next month, was worth £450 a year for the average worker.

Mr Hunt also announced freezes to alcohol and fuel duty, and increased the child benefit threshold from £50,000 to £60,000.

Although the government fund for people struggling with cost of living pressures is to continue for another six months, Ms Barrett said those that have come to rely on the money are concerned what will happen when it ends.

"This is what's feeding them, putting gas end electricity on the meter," she said.

Affordable Food Stoke saves surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away and gives it to people in need, with more than 2,000 having had food since the start of 2024.

Ms Barrett said some of the people she had spoken to told her Wednesday's Budget was about an election, and it "won't make a dent for the average working person in Stoke-on-Trent."