Small business owners and wet-led pubs have been hung out to dry in Budget - MP

Reacting to the Chancellor Budget speech, local MP Tim Farron said: "I'm glad to see that the Chancellor has listened to our joint calls with Cumbria Tourism to extend support schemes for local businesses, including the furlough scheme, the business rates holiday and the VAT cut for the hospitality sector.

"However, it is incredibly disappointing that the Chancellor has failed to fix some of the long-standing issues with these schemes which means that many struggling workers and businesses will continue to face enormous hardship in the months ahead.

"He has done nothing to plug the gaps in support for the furlough and self-employment income support schemes which means that many freelancers, new starters, directors of small limited companies and self-employed people will now face 12 months without a penny of support.

"Meanwhile the decision not to extend the cut in VAT to alcohol will mean that wet-led pubs, that are so important to communities in the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, have been hung out to dry yet again."