Shropshire politicians divided in response to Chancellor's Autumn Statement

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed benefit and national insurance changes in his statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

National Insurance is set to be reduced from 12 per cent to 10 per cent for around 27 million workers, which means those on £35,000 a year will receive a £450 tax cut.

The Chancellor also vowed to raise the National Living Wage to £11.44 an hour, maintain the pensions triple lock and said he would increase in-work benefits by 6.7 per cent.

With the statement, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility significantly downgraded growth forecasts, with the economy now expected to grow just 0.6 per cent this year and 0.7 in 2024.

The OBR also said it was still forecasting the largest fall in living standards since records began in the 1950s, with disposable incomes 3.5 per cent lower in the election year than they were before the pandemic.