Responding to the Budget, Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:
“It’s welcome that the Chancellor took steps to protect the economy in the short-term by extending the furlough scheme and much needed support for sectors that have been hit hardest by the pandemic.
“In my view, the measures announced today fall short of the comprehensive long-term recovery plan and investment in our public services like the NHS, schools and local councils, which regions like ours need if the government is to achieve its stated aim of levelling up.
“I was equally disappointed that the Chancellor had almost nothing to say about devolving more power and funding away from Whitehall, when areas like ours could be taking steps now to boost the economic recovery, had we been given more backing by government.
“My heart goes out to the 3 million people excluded from government support since last March, who were hoping for something today to address their plight. They deserved better.
“Overall, I think today was a missed opportunity for the government to set out a clear long-term vision for our economic recovery in a post-pandemic, post-brexit world.”
