'The £100 council tax payment doesn’t even cover a week’s shopping, it won't help me'

Residents across the Fylde coast have now had their say on the budget; does it actually help them, or is it a ‘tinkering of smoke and mirrors’?

One Fylde coast man said: “It’s now 70 quid to fill my car, 30 quid to fill my bike. I just found my receipt for car fuel £12 was tax- imagine if no tax was added to fuel for 1 year.”

Another woman thinks that the £100 payment is a weak attempt at fixing issues: “100 pounds isn't going to go far, that's 1 week's shopping for me. What about helping with bills?”

One man thinks that Labour haven’t done enough to bring down the cost of living since taking over from the Tories in 2024: “Since the Labour Party came to power energy bills have increased by approx. £310, in January they are forecast to increase by a further 27% taking the annualised increase to approx £775. That £100 is a drop in the ocean.”

Another critic added: “A budget of nothing; fog, tinkering smoke and mirrors. They are going to give a one off payment of £100 to council taxpayers in low bands. Let's remember that this January, gas bills will go up again 26%, taking gas and electricity prices since Labour got up by a massive £585.”

Some residents defended the budget, with one woman saying that £100 is ‘better than nothing’. Another said: “It’s small steps but at least they are trying to do something to fix the economy.”