The borough's MPs have welcomed yesterday's budget, saying it will save almost 90,000 people £700 per year.

Sutton's Liberal Democrat MPs Tom Brake and Paul Burstow have described George Osborne's budget, unveiled yesterday, as fair and practical.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Osborne, said his budget was people who want to "work hard and get on".

Headlines included a rise in the amount people can earn before paying income tax, schemes to encourage home ownership and a subsidy for child care.

He also scrapped a planned rise in duty on beer in favour of a cut although 2 per cent rises on wine, spirits and cigarettes were left in place.

The raise in the income tax threshold means an estimated 87,100 people in Sutton will pay £700 less tax every year.

Carshalton and Wallington MP Mr Brake said: "I want fairer taxes, which is why raising the tax-free allowance was my number one priority at the General Election.

"In Government, the Liberal Democrats have now delivered a £700 tax cut for those on low and middle incomes.

"When times are tough, with rising bills and wages not keeping pace with inflation, we want to give people real, practical help.

"Cutting income tax will not deal with all of those problems, but it will help. And I hope it will make a big difference to every family in this country."

Sutton and Cheam MP Mr Burstow said: "At a time when every penny counts, lower income tax for hard working people means that people have more money to spend on the things that matter to them most.

"I can see how hard people are working to create better futures for themselves and for their families.

"This budget contains a number of policies to help ordinary people.

"For example, we have cut fuel duty to help motorists, a new housing package to help people get on the housing ladder and an extra £3bn for capital spending – meaning better infrastructure and more jobs.

"Most important is the income tax cut.

"This is a major step towards building a fairer society, delivering on our promise in 2010.

"There is more that can and be done to help families through these tough times, and I will continue to campaign on behalf of hard working people to help build a fairer society."

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