THE government’s budget which was set out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday has received backing from Barnsley’s three Labour MPs - who say it’s ‘good news’ for the town.

A freeze on tax thresholds for an extra three years was outlined, in a move that will drag millions into paying more tax, but Ms Reeves said the biggest burden would fall on those ‘with the broadest shoulders’ through higher taxes on property and savings, including a new tax on homes worth more than £2m.

The package - which also includes measures to tackle the cost of living - was the ‘right thing to do’, but the Conservatives said she should resign for breaking a promise not to come back for more taxes.

Its measures add up to £26bn in tax rises in 2029/30, which will bring the UK’s tax take to an all-time high of 38 per cent of national income in 2030/31, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

Despite it being slammed by opposition MPs, the town’s three representatives - Barnsley North’s Dan Jarvis, Barnsley South’s Stephanie Peacock and Penistone and Stocksbridge’s Marie Tidball - all pledged their support.

Dan told the Chronicle: “This budget was good for Barnsley and good for Britain - it shows that only Labour are serious about rebuilding our economy.

“Some pretend that there are easy solutions, such as borrowing more or drastically cutting public services, but they simply aren’t credible.

“We’re determined to build a stronger, fairer and more secure country.

“That’s why our budget will cut NHS waiting lists, the cost of living, child poverty and boost wages, living standards and opportunities.”

Stephanie added: “I was pleased to see that a number of important announcements included in the budget that will have a positive impact on people across Barnsley.

“The Chancellor announced £5m to build libraries in secondary schools on top of the government’s pledge to ensure that every primary school in the country has a library by 2029.

“She also announced that apprenticeships will be free for small and medium businesses to offer for under-25s, meaning that young people across Barnsley can access opportunities, and removing the burden on the local businesses offering training.

“The government will be freezing prescription charges, and rail fares for the first time in 30 years, increasing state pensions, increasing wages and delivering an average of £150 off household bills from April.

“The Chancellor announced the removal of the two-child benefit cap, which will lift 450,000 children out of poverty across the country, 72 per cent of whom live in working households.

“This will affect over 3,200 families in my constituency of Barnsley South.

“I welcome the changes announced by the Chancellor and I know that they will make a real difference to people across Barnsley.”

Marie said the budget will also help the town’s former miners, who are set to pocket increased pensions.

“This budget is about choices - getting NHS waiting lists down, no return to austerity and tackling the cost of living for families up and down this country.

“This will finally end this historic injustice, and delivers what is rightfully owed back to former miners, British Coal staff and their families across our communities.”

However, the budget was criticised by the president of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, Matt Travis, who said Ms Reeves’ pledges were ‘built on sand’.

“I am very concerned that the decision to tax and spend will starve Britain’s economy of the oxygen it desperately needs to prosper - I am under no illusions that many will continue to face immense challenges, particularly when it comes to recruiting and retaining the vital employees needed to boost productivity and drive growth.

“This was not a simple budget and the decisions made will add more complexity to the already tangled tax system.

“It’s a budget that will leave almost every working person a little worse off, fails to address the eye-watering levels of public spending, and like so much of the speculation in the run-up to the announcement, leaves more questions than answers.

“It has reaffirmed that she is continuing to build foundations on sand.”