Given print deadlines, I was not able to comment on last week’s Budget in this column. But now, after having spoken in the Budget debate on Monday, I wanted to outline my take on the Chancellor’s plans, since they put in place some positive building blocks for our economy and for families in South Shropshire.

In last week’s Budget, I am pleased the Chancellor addressed the cost of living pressures with tax cuts, which will help working families in South Shropshire. By also raising the threshold and halving the rate at which higher income child benefit is withdrawn, by April 2026 the Chancellor will have ended the unfairness for single-earner families.

Cutting employees National Insurance again, by a further 2p in April, after 2p in January, will ease pressure on household budgets. Combined with the National Insurance cut at the Autumn Statement, and with above inflation increases to thresholds since 2010, the average South Shropshire worker on £34,500 in 2024/25 will pay over £1,500 less in personal taxes than they otherwise would have done had the government only increased thresholds in line with inflation.

The extension of the fuel duty freeze will keep fuel costs lower than they otherwise would have been, and the freeze on alcohol duty and the extension of business rates relief will significantly help the hubs of our communities in rural areas - our pubs.

I know that pensioner incomes are an important consideration for many in South Shropshire, and the Triple Lock increased the state pension by 10.1% this year, and it will increase by a further 8.5% next month. In addition, the tax-free personal allowance, at £12,570, (compared to just £6,475 when Labour left office) remains high enough that a pensioner receiving only a full basic or new state pension will not pay any tax on that income.

In support of South Shropshire farmers, I am pleased the Chancellor addressed the anomalous disincentive under which agricultural property relief was not available for land entered into some natural capital land use schemes.

There were some welcome measures to ensure renewable energy projects can connect to the grid more quickly, as well as progress towards replenishing our civil nuclear fleet. Since 2010, greenhouse gas emissions are down 53% while our economy has grown by 82%. The decarbonisation plan is working.

This was a thoughtful, prudent Budget, which will lead to lower taxation for individuals over time and grow the economy.