Does anyone give a damn about the Budget?

Vox Pop

Alistair Darling's annual financial refit was slated by the media as 'the most boring in history'. The commodities he taxed hardest were cigarettes, alcohol and gas-guzzler cars. But was anyone listening, or had the electorate nodded off?

Simon Crane, 24

Business owner

If you've worked hard and have had a good education, then the Budget changes won't affect you all that much. It's all going to rise each and every year anyway.

Neal Bailey, 29

Contracts Manager

I'm pleased that taxes increased on high-street lagers and alcopops. Young people should be taught to drink sensibly before they start to become reckless.

Myles Cummings, 44

Design lecturer

It was pretty insipid stuff and won't change anything very much. I'm disappointed that they didn't seem to take climate change very seriously.

Irene Hardy, 60

Dancer/actress

I'm fed up with short-term changes to win over voters. They ought to focus instead on the longer-term, less superficial issues such as education or health.

Patrick Munro, 46

Homeless

I couldn't care less! I was born here on the streets and the budget has no relevance for me at all. I keep away from all that.

Audrey Ferguson, 36

IT manager

I do care and in general, this Budget was fine. The coverage in the papers was very biased, though, and the attacks on the middle class facile.

Carrie Croft, 27

Publican

The rise in alcohol prices is a problem. People get to the pub drunker, saving money by drinking at home first. We lose money but have to cope with more unruliness.

John Eghan, 40

Construction worker

Nothing will change for the lower classes because they will just lose more money in taxes. I'm glad more support is going to child benefit.

Carl Grawe, 39

Taxi driver

It's ridiculous! They should be giving us a tax break so that we can lower our fares. That way, more people will hire taxis and pollution will be cut down too.

Adessa Konyk-Wilson, 21

Paralegal

The tax on low-income earners is the worst thing. How can they expect the poorest in our society to survive in these conditions?

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