CONSERVATIVE MPs from the region liked what they heard from Chancellor George Osborne as he delivered his first budget to a packed House of Commons.

Dr Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich was confident that the budget addressed the problems facing the economy – while protecting the most vulnerable members of society.

He said: “We all knew that this was going to be a tough budget but I think he has really managed to come up with a budget that is fair and progressive.

“By splitting the costs of tackling the deficit between 77% spending reductions and 23% tax rises he has been as fair as he possible could be to those on limited incomes.”

Dr Poulter also welcomed the announcement that capital projects would be approved and money would be made available to improve broadband coverage in rural areas.

He said: “I was speaking to (culture secretary) Jeremy Hunt about this and he is setting up three broadband pilot schemes – I would like to get one of those in a rural part of Suffolk if at all possible.”

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer also welcomed the budget – hoping it would lead to investment in the town after the announcement about capital projects. He accepted there would be some pain, but said this was necessary because of the state of the economy.

“I’m not happy about VAT going up. I’m a Conservative. I don’t like putting up taxes but the economy is in a very fragile state.

“It needs these kind of changes otherwise we could get into a situation like that in Spain and end up with having changes imposed on us by the IMF. That would be even worse for all of us.”