MPs were divided along party lines over the likely impact of the Budget on the lives of their constituents.
South Suffolk’s Conservative MP James Cartlidge said: “I think it was a very good budget. The Chancellor is constrained by the sluggish productivity but this is looking to give the economy a good push, especially with investment projects.
“The housing proposals and the infrastructure support should help push the economy forward, and it is starting to look as if we are moving forward as an economy.
“I think it’s a very bold and progressive budget that will be good for the country.”
This view was not shared by Ipswich Labour MP Sandy Martin.
He said: “I think it was fairly stale. We had heard all the talk about housing before.
“What the country needs is a budget to boost the wealth of the country.
“The best way of doing that is to boost infrastructure – you improve the country as a whole and you create good jobs which provides wealth that boosts the economy.”
He said that for all the talk of the government boosting infrastructure, he did not feel that the changes would be significant enough to make a difference overall.
Labour MEP for the region Alex Mayer was disappointed there was no guarantee of good wage rises for most public servants.
She said that according to the Labour Party’s data, NHS staff are 14% worse off today in real terms pay than in 2010.
Ms Mayer said: “Despite friendly sounding words, the Chancellor has once again refused to give public sector workers like nurses and teachers a proper pay rise.”
Bury St Edmunds MP Jo Churchill said she was encouraged by the talk of support for modern, high tech industries – and felt the region could benefit significantly from some of the technical support that came out of the Budget.
She said: “When you look at the what he was saying about R&D (research and development) there was really good support there for some of the new industries along the A14 corridor from Cambridge to Adastral Park right through Suffolk.
“And the support for infrastructure with new home developments was also very important – there was a great deal in this budget for us.”
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