Barry Sheerman says Budget measures don’t meet country’s needs

HUDDERSFIELD MP BARRY SHEERMAN said the Budget left him “in fear and trepidation” for employment prospects in the town.

The veteran Labour MP said: “We are going through a period of retrenchment and a decline in growth.

“The economy is flat and the commonsense approach would be to give it a boost. I don’t think the Chancellor realises what a serious situation we are in.”

COLNE Valley MP Jason McCartney believes the town’s university could be in line for Government cash from the Budget for scientific innovation and research.

The Tories outlined £100m towards science enterprise and Mr McCartney said: “Huddersfield is in line for some of this.”

He said overall it was a Budget for families and enterprise.

“We have taken another 250,000 low-paid people out of the tax system,’’ he said. “That means we have helped 1.1m people in this way since we came to power.’’

And he said people will benefit from the 1p off fuel now ..

He added: “There will be 40,000 new apprenticeships and 12 technical colleges with funding for 100,000 work experience placements.’’

KIRKLEES leader Clr MEHBOOB KHAN criticised the Budget.

The Greenhead Labour man said: “There’s no plan for jobs and growth. We welcome the move to help motorists but there ought to be greater support to improve rail and bus transport.’’

CLR ROBERT LIGHT, leader of the Kirklees Conservatives, welcomed the tax changes.

The point at which people start paying tax will rise by £630 to £8,015 from April next year.

Clr Light said: “It’s good news about personal allowances, it will help a lot of lower-income families cope with the financial pressures.”

The Birstall and Birkenshaw man was also happy to hear a planned increase in petrol tax had been delayed until 2012.

CLR KATH PINNOCK, Kirklees Lib Dem leader, said yesterday’s Budget included many policies from her party.

She said: “One of our key manifesto promises was to raise the level at which people start paying income tax to £10,000 by the end of the Parliament.

“The first stage begins this April when every taxpayer will be £100 better off.”

KIRKLEES Green leader Clr ANDREW COOPER criticised the chancellor for announcing tax cuts.

The Newsome man said: “You’ve got to ask whether tax cuts are the right thing to do, given the cuts being made to services for elderly and vulnerable people.”