WORKING people in Warrington have been through 14 tough years.

Wages are worth less than they were a decade ago, with real weekly wages in Warrington £38 lower this year than they were in 2008.

The NHS has a record waiting list, with nearly half of A&E patients in Warrington waiting more than four hours for treatment.

The Government’s long-promised plan to make high-quality social care accessible and affordable for families never materialised.

Is this the budget to finally turn the corner for working families, pointing to better times ahead?

The headline measure is a cut to national insurance. Of course, families will welcome any action that eases the pressure on their finances.

But pre-election tax cuts cannot make up for years of falling living standards – especially with the economy in recession and billions of pounds of public service cuts to come.

No one wants tax cuts at the expense of their local services. We need a proper long-term plan to raise wages for everyone and to restore public services.

Warrington has a proud economy, with industry-leading businesses in sectors such as transport and energy.

But this can only be maintained with a Government that prioritises investment in our communities, and in the public services we all rely on.

JAY MCKENNA

TUC north west