Business and political groups in the North East have given a mixed reaction to Jeremy Hunt’s Budget.
Moves to extend free childcare and boost business investment were broadly welcomed, while the selection of the North East as one of the 12 job-creating ‘investment zones’ - one of many Budget measures released in advance of the Chancellor’s speech - was also popular.
But there was criticism from Labour politicians that the Budget did not nothing to tackle the immediate impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
