CHANCELLOR George Osborne began his Budget speech by claiming his government’s economic austerity plan is working and that Britain is “walking tall” — but is this the case for the people of Bolton? The Bolton News spoke to a panel of voters at the Victoria and Albert pub in Horwich.

A PENNY off the price of a pint and a freeze in fuel duty went down well with The Bolton News voters' panel as Chancellor George Osborne geared his Budget speech towards the North.

Mr Osborne also promised that Greater Manchester could keep any growth in business rates as part of the Government's drive to build a "Northern powerhouse".

But the Chancellor, who visited Horwich in May last year, left some of our panel cold as they labelled his Budget as being a "typical pre-election giveaway".

Mr Osborne said that in the past year Britain’s economy had grown faster than any other major advanced nation, before outlining a raft of announcements that he hopes could woo voters ahead of May’s General Election.

Among the measures, he said he wants to help people in work by raising the amount they can earn before tax to £11,000.

Savers will also be helped with a new personal savings allowance — meaning the first £1,000 of interest on savings will be tax-free for those paying the basic rate.

The duty on beer will be cut by a penny for the third year in a row and a planned increase on petrol duty has been cancelled.

There were also plans announced to help first-time buyers, with a pledge to top-up every £200 saved with an extra £50 of government cash.

Dave Pawson, landlord of the Victoria and Albert, which was recently named Bolton’s best pub by CAMRA, said he would directly benefit from the plans.

He said: “They often say it is a penny off a pint. It doesn’t quite work like that but a cut in the duty means that the price of beer probably won’t go up and that is a good thing for me and my punters.

“The fact that fuel duty is being frozen is also good because it means the suppliers will have no reason to charge more.”

Gwynneth Noxon, aged 66, from Horwich, said: “I just think this was a pre-election vote winner and it doesn’t mean a lot for most people.

“It hasn’t changed my views and hell would have to freeze over for me to vote Conservative.”

The announcement of a new personal tax allowance went down well with Phil Thompson, who runs security firm Key Control Services in Kearsley.

He said: “A lot of people only have savings of about £1,000 and this is good for them as it means they can keep all of it.

“I was also pleased to see the cut in fuel duty as we have a fleet of eight vans, so that will definitely help us out.”

The Budget is often seen as a potential vote winner and on May 7, 17-year-old Alex May will vote for the first time, following his 18th birthday next month.

The economics student from Rivington and Blackrod High School said he was pleased with the “positive budget”.

He said: “The raising of the tax threshold could help me when I get my first job and I think in general I trust the Conservatives when it comes to the economy.”

Young mum Heather Roohan has two small children.

She said: “I will be going back to work soon and the personal allowance raise should help me because I will be at that end of the scale.”

Margaret Smith, aged 65, is one of the many undecided voters in Bolton West who could play a key role in the outcome of the poll in May.

She said: “I liked some of the things that he mentioned but you hear these speeches and you can’t always take them as fact.

“I am exactly the same after the budget speech as I was before — undecided.”