Budget 2021: Missed opportunities for NHS and green economy concern Leeds couple
Martin Hughes, a semi retired director of a house maintenance and renovation company and his wife Fiona, a semi-retired computer consultant, have been giving their reactions to today's (March 3) budget.
Mr Hughes, 64, who is chairman Horsforth Civic Society and a former Horsforth town councillor, said he found the content of the budget "encouraging" but said he agreed with opposition leader Keir Starmer that there were "so many missed opportunities."
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Hide AdMr Hughes, who is also chairman of Newlay Conservation Society, said: "He didn't really talk about the NHS at all and I feel it's massively behind on dealing with its basic caseload.
"The result is that without extra resources these enormous waiting queues will not decline quickly.
"The catch-up the NHS has to do is huge and I didn't hear about any resources going into that.
"He missed the opportunity to create jobs, business and opportunities in the green environment.
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Hide AdFiona Hughes, 65, said: thought it was a fairly typical business budget as you would expect from a Tory Chancellor.
"Good for business and, I hope, good for Covid recovery.
"I'm a little worried about stoking up the housing market with mortgage guarantees.
"There's a scheme to support 95 per cent mortgages, which has been done in the past and all it did was increase house prices.
"He's doing a scheme to support people who can only afford a five per cent deposit on their mortgage. Last time it just ended up in a boom to the house price market.
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Hide Ad"What we need is more affordable housing being built. and there was nothing in particular that I saw today that would do that.
"I think there should have been more investment in green technology.
"They have to make a big push on green issues if you are going to do anything about global warming and I still don't think they're doing enough."