Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget met with some relief and some resignation by Gornal businesses
Business owners across a Black Country town have delivered a mixed response to the new Budget announced by the Chancellor.
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For business owners and managers across Gornal, Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget has brought some relief for some, but left others wondering how much it will affect them in the long run.
In the House of Commons, the Chancellor announced a cut in workers' National Insurance by 2p, meaning a fall from 10 per cent to eight per cent, worth around £450 a year for the average worker.
He also announced a six-month extension to the Household Support Fund, a freeze in alcohol duty until February 2025, and an extension to the 5p cut in fuel duty.
Other announcements saw an increase in the VAT threshold for small businesses to £90,000, new taxes on vapes and higher taxes for business class flights, as well as "abolishing" the "non-dom" tax system, and raising the child benefit threshold from £50,000 to £60,000.
At the Chapel House pub in Gornal, landlord James Stevens was watching the budget being announced, having previously spoken about wanting "an even hand" from the budget.
He said the news of a freeze on alcohol duty until the start of 2025 was very welcome as it helped him to continue to provide reasonable prices for customers.
