Budget 'gives with one hand and takes away with the other,' says Hartlepool MP

“Borrowing is up, growth is down and there was nothing from the Chancellor in his Budget to help people in Hartlepool secure a job,” he said.

“I was severely disappointed there was nothing to help the beleaguered steel industry, which has suffered enormous knocks locally and nationally in recent months.”

Easington MP Grahame Morris was scathing: “This budget fails to meet the challenges we face as a country which means we are less resilient and prepared to deal with economic shocks than at the beginning of the banking crisis,” he said.

“Austerity is not working for communities like East Durham, which have been abandoned by a government focused on narrow ideology and self-interest, rather than the long-term economic needs in areas waiting for him to deliver his promise to rebalance the economy.”

North East Chamber of Commerce head of policy and campaigns Jonathan Walker said: “We are pleased our lobbying has helped secure a firm commitment to upgrade both the A66 and A69,” he said.

“However, we are disappointed the Chancellor has not heeded our calls for further detail on big reforms. The Government has said it is committed to stability yet doesn’t provide businesses with detail to plan for the future.”

TUC regional organiser Beth Farhat added: “The government can’t be taken seriously on devolution while demolishing funding for local services with the poorest communities taking the biggest hit.

“George Osborne is picking the pockets of the disabled to pay for a crisis caused by a banking elite.”