Budget 2021: 'Prices are going up but wages are not'

John Greenfield said his pension was feeling the effect of rising prices

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has promised his budget will deliver a "higher wages, higher skills" economy.

Among other announcements, he promised more money for schools, business rate cuts and took 3p off the price of a pint of beer.

But Labour said universal credit measures would not make up for axing the £20-a-week top-up to the benefit.

People in Bilborough, Nottingham - one of England's most deprived areas - gave their reaction.

Much of the budget had been pre-announced, including an end to the public sector pay freeze and an increase to the National Living Wage from £8.91 per hour to £9.50.

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Georgina Greenfield supported more help for working families

As a pensioner, John Greenfield said he was feeling the effect of rising prices.

He said: "The cost of living is going up, it's definitely going up.

"But the pensioners aren't getting the hourly wage like the minimum wage is going up to.

"The pension keeps up with inflation but only just."

His wife Georgina said: "My thinking is that I keep hearing that there are all these jobs available, so why are people not taking them?

"I think increasing the in-work benefits - and not the out of work benefits - is a good thing."

Richard Hepple was sceptical local people would find themselves better off

Shanade Crampton, 18, who works at a nearby off-licence, said: "The prices are going up but the wages aren't.

"The politicians have been treating people disgustingly and I don't think people are going to be better off."

Retired osteopath Richard Hepple said: "Most of the people on universal credit who aren't working can't work, so why punish them?

"They can talk about levelling up but a lot of this money isn't new and small rises in the minimum wage have already been swallowed up."