By Islam El-Sakka
Chancellor John Healey is set to unveil his first Budget on Wednesday amid historic highs in government borrowing costs and with few leaks about the tax and spending plans. BBC News spoke to people across a range of incomes about their financial pressures and what they hope to see in the statement.
Young jobseekers call for expanded employment schemes
Emily Nelson, 19, from Swindon, completed her A-levels last year but has been unable to find work. She wants the government to increase funding for businesses to hire more young people and extend the Jobs Guarantee scheme, which offers six-month paid placements for 18 to 24-year-olds on universal credit, to those eligible after one year instead of 18 months.
Drivers demand fuel duty cut
Dave Herbert, a 48-year-old professional driver from Ynysddu, spends about £350 a month on petrol, 40-50% more than at the start of the year. He urges the chancellor to drastically reduce or remove fuel duty, which has been frozen at 57.95p per litre since 2011 and is expected to be frozen again.
Housing affordability concerns
Robert Portlock, 29, from Gateshead, earns £22,000 and says rent would consume two-thirds of his wage. He wants fuel duty and income tax cuts, or a higher personal allowance of about £16,000, and finds saving for a house impossible despite a new government scheme for first-time buyers with a 2.5% deposit.
Single parents seek tax relief
Chloe Chin-Saad, 40, a single parent in south London earning £41,000, struggles with rising energy bills, council tax, and car finance. She wants more help for single-parent families, such as tax relief, noting that two incomes make a massive difference.
Higher earners open to wealth tax
Jonathan Whitwam, 52, a finance worker from Essex earning £150,000, says he would welcome higher taxes on higher earners for redistribution. He proposes a one-off wealth tax on assets over £10 million and new taxes on oil, gas, and banking sectors to fund public services.
Pensioners urge standing charge relief
Christine Morris, 78, from Worksop, lives on a state pension and a small private pension totalling £15,000 a year. She wants relief on electricity standing charges for people living alone and broader access to pension credit, which she currently misses by £3 a week.
