PLANS to boost the UK's long-term economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic have received mixed responses.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the contents of his Budget in the House of Commons yesterday, setting out the Government's tax and spending plans for the year ahead.

Furness MP Simon Fell welcomed the plans and support for families and local businesses.

He said: “This Budget was front and centre about creating, supporting and protecting jobs as we head out of lockdown and out of this pandemic.

"The Chancellor was honest with people about the difficult challenges which we have ahead of us, but right now the focus on support for families and local businesses is especially welcome.

"I’ve campaigned hard for retaining the Universal Credit uplift and am delighted to see it remain until the end of the pandemic, and the £6bn tax cut for local businesses will make a huge difference to our local shops and high street.

"I’m also glad that Barrow will benefit from £150,000 in levelling up capacity funding to help us bid into further government funding to support our community in the months ahead.”

But Westmorland & Lonsdale MP Tim Farron felt struggling workers and businesses will continue to face 'enormous hardship'.

He said: “I’m glad to see that the Chancellor has listened to our joint calls with Cumbria Tourism to extend support schemes for local businesses, including the furlough scheme, the business rates holiday and the VAT cut for the hospitality sector.

"However, it is incredibly disappointing that the Chancellor has failed to fix some of the long-standing issues with these schemes which means that many struggling workers and businesses will continue to face enormous hardship in the months ahead.

“He has done nothing to plug the gaps in support for the furlough and self-employment income support schemes which means that many freelancers, new starters, directors of small limited companies and self-employed people will now face 12 months without a penny of support.

“Meanwhile the decision not to extend the cut in VAT to alcohol will mean that wet-led pubs, that are so important to communities in the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, have been hung out to dry yet again.”

Cumbria Tourism welcomed the Chancellor’s budget statement, commenting that the announcement will be a 'big relief' for businesses in the county.

Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said: “This budget clearly acknowledges the key points we have been lobbying for at the highest levels of government for some time.

"We are pleased it recognises the implications of the phased way in which businesses will reopen in the coming months, with extra reopening costs, ongoing financial pressures and restrictions likely to remain in place.

“This will clearly impact on their ability to operate at pre-Covid levels for some time, so today’s news will be a big relief not only for hundreds of businesses, but also thousands of employees across our county."