THE Chancellor’s spring budget has been met with plenty of criticism with one Cheshire MP angrily saying it did ‘virtually nothing’ for those most in need.

With the ever-increasing cost of living crisis hitting many across the country, Rishi Sunak announced a 5p reduction in fuel duty, but many felt he didn’t do anywhere near enough.

Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury accused the Chancellor of doing ‘virtually nothing’ for struggling families trying to survive the cost-of living crisis.

He said: “The Chancellor’s spring budget did nothing or virtually nothing for the very people to suffer most from a cost-of-living crisis that will see the biggest drop in living standards since the 1950s.

“Many are reliant on benefits whether in work, looking for work or unable to work. And those benefits are going up by just 3.1 per cent when prices are rising by 8.2 per cent in terms of the RPI inflation measure.

“How are they going to pay their electric bill, their gas bill? People are really struggling. It’s that choice between heating the house or buying the weekly shopping.”

He said the pressure on household budgets came against the backdrop of a cut to Universal Credit of £20 per week or £1,000 a year.

Mr Amesbury added: “The supposed help to cover energy bills is not an actual discount but a loan so it’s Rishi the loan shark.

“Even the 5p per litre reduction on fuel at the pumps - over the last fortnight it’s gone up by 8p!

“Taxes at a 70-year high and biggest drop in living standards since records began. This will lead to an even bigger use of food banks in my constituency and beyond. 

“Despite all the smoke and mirrors, seven out of eight workers will be worse off. The Chancellor’s cynical promise of 1p off income tax just before the next election is like the thief who steals your loaf of bread but leaves you with a few crumbs on the table.” 

However, Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson defended his colleague, saying the economy was ‘recovering well’ due to the Government’s actions.

He added: “The economy is recovering well, with a record number of job vacancies and unemployment back down to pre-crisis levels.

“The Chancellor is helping families with the cost of living, creating the conditions for private sector-led growth, and sharing the proceeds of that growth fairly by reducing and reforming taxes over this Parliament.  

“This includes cutting tax on petrol and diesel by 5p for 12 months - which will be welcome news for most of my Eddisbury constituents, who are, of necessity, reliant on their cars to get around a very rural part of Cheshire.

“We’re cutting National Insurance contributions for employees, too, from July - a tax cut worth more than £330 per year for half the population, with even more than that paying less overall - as well as for half a million employers running small businesses.

“And half the population will benefit from an income tax cut, leaving more money in their pockets for their families.”

Mr Timpson’s predecessor in the Eddisbury seat - the now Liberal Democrat Antoinette Sandbach - slammed the statement as a ‘massive missed opportunity’.

"People across our community were looking to Rishi Sunak for a helping hand in facing this once in a generation cost of living crisis.

“Eye-watering price hikes are leaving many in Eddisbury struggling to make ends meet.

"This was crunch time for the Chancellor and the Conservatives, and they haven't stepped up to the mark.

“It's families who they have clobbered with unfair tax hikes who will pay the price for this massive missed opportunity.”

She went on to say that the Lib Dem plans would have supported the economy by boosting spending on local high streets, with a proposal to reduce VAT from 20 per cent to 17.5 per cent for one year.

The proposals, she said, would also be expected to keep inflation down by making the prices of everyday items lower than they would have been.

She added: "Rishi Sunak should stop putting his pride over people, scrap his punishing tax hikes, and back Liberal Democrat calls for an emergency cut to VAT.

“This would put £16,560 back into the pockets of 27,600 residents in our area and support our local businesses like shops, cafes and restaurants."