NEW St Helens North MP Dave Watts has hailed Gordon Brown's first Labour Budget as a "people's Budget."

He said: "This budget delivers on Labour's manifesto promises. It provides resources for education and health and will put people back to work through the windfall tax on privatised utilities and at the same time cut VAT on fuel to five per cent.

"With more than £2.3 billion for schools and £1.2 billion for health I am sure that the people of St Helens North will also welcome the Chancellor's Budget. The Welfare to Work programme will help the long-term unemployed and the whole Budget will start to repair some of the damage that has been done to Britain over the last 17 years by the Tory Government."

And Mr Watts added: "I am delighted that the Chancellor has decided to begin the phased release of the council's capital receipts over the next two years.

"We can now look at how we can invest this extra cash in renovating homes to a modern standard.

"I am delighted that Labour's first Budget is a people's Budget aimed at getting Britain back to work."

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