'Forget stamp duty, we need a pay rise' – people respond to the budget

How did Philip Hammond’s budget affect you? The Guardian talks to families, workers and businesses across Britain

With a newborn baby and a 14-month-old son to support on an annual income of less than £20,000, police community support officer Laurence Ridge, 21, was hoping for better news in the budget.

“I think the decision to abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers is reasonable but he should have announced a bigger pay rise for public sector workers – the 1% we get is miniscule compared with inflation. Building 300,000 affordable homes is nothing, spread out across the country. Where are they all?”

Related: Stamp duty cut for first-time buyers will push up prices, warns OBR

Related: Key points from budget 2017 – at a glance

Continue reading... November 22, 2017 at 10:01PM