Today’s Budget is good news for the economy, good news for businesses and jobs, and good news for families and pensioners here in Leicester West.

This is a budget for growth, which is what we need.

Life is still really difficult: too many people are worried about the future and struggling to make ends meet. We’re not out of the woods yet, and we need to make the right choices about the future.

I think the Chancellor has struck the right balance between continuing to support the recovery – by investing in skills, infrastructure and new incentives for businesses – and setting out how we will tighten our belts on spending, without harming frontline public services.

Its particularly good news that, under Labour:

· every young person who has been unemployed for more than 6 months will be guaranteed a job, training or education place until March 2012;
· first time buyers won’t have to pay stamp duty on houses costing up to £250,000; and
· the winter fuel payment for pensioners will remain at a higher level this year, with £250 for people over 60 and £400 for people over 80.

The Tories would put all this at risk by cutting crucial help and support for the economy, and by cutting public spending immediately and severely.

I’m working hard to make sure this constituency has the investment, skills, jobs and businesses we need to see us through these difficult times and into a better future.