The Chancellor has unveiled what has been described as “a Budget for growth”, which includes £200m for highways maintenance. However, it has been described as “a disappointing Budget from a disappointing Government” by the Chairman of the Alliance of British Drivers.

A revolution in childcare, a £27 billion tax cut for business and a trio of freezes to help families with the cost-of-living headlined the Chancellor’s Spring Budget yesterday.

Aimed at achieving long-term, sustainable economic growth that delivers prosperity for the people of the United Kingdom, the Spring Budget breaks down barriers to work, unshackles business investment and tackles labour shortages head on.

The Chancellor also announced £200 million for highways maintenance for the financial year 2023-2024. This is in addition to the existing highways maintenance funding settlement announced in the October 2021 Spending Review, which committed over £2.7 billion of local highways maintenance funding between tax years 2022 and 2025 to local authorities outside of London and the 8 largest city regions.

Advertisement

Pocketbox

However, it was a less than positive view coming from Brian Gregory, Chairman of the Alliance of British Drivers. Commenting on the Spring Budget he said “While we welcome the extension of the 5p fuel duty cut, this Budget has done little to help drivers across the UK.  

“The Chancellor could have helped ease the cost-of-living crisis by removing the outrageous burden of paying tax twice at the fuel pumps – in the form of VAT and fuel duty.  

“Scrapping VAT on fuel duty is equivalent to a 10.6p cut at the pumps for drivers and would have been a real boost.

“Instead, the Government will continue to spend hardworking taxpayers money to support electric vehicle subsidies and grants for electric vehicle infrastructure which will benefit the wealthy.  

“This was a disappointing Budget from a disappointing Government.”