Barnsley MP Dan Jarvis has accused the Chancellor of the Exchequer of failing Barnsley following the Autumn Statement, a mini-budget which sets out his latest plans for the economy.

Mr Jarvis said it was a chance for George Osborne to help families struggling to make ends meet and that the government did not care about ordinary, hardworking people.

He added: "They would rather give a tax cut to millionaires than ease the burden on households in places like Barnsley.”

He also attacked the chancellor's record on economic growth, saying Mr Osborne had tried to cover up his failure on jobs and growth, adding: "The Government promised us growth of 4.6 per cent, when over the last two years our economy has grown by just 0.6 per cent.

"His economics just do not work. We have nearly one-million young people out of work. This is a critical problem in Barnsley and long-term unemployment is rising."

In the statement, Mr Osborne said he will not meet his target of reducing the debt by 2015. In addition, the government is set to borrow £212 billion more than they had planned to.

He also announced measures to cut the budget of local authorities even further.

Mr Jarvis added: “Most people will be interested in knowing how all this will affect them directly and although I welcome the cancellation of the 3p rise in fuel prices it is very concerning that prices are forecast to carry on rising faster than wages do, meaning hard times will continue for many people in Barnsley.

"George Osborne is failing every single person in Barnsley Central with more reckless policies and his inability to admit when he is wrong.  We need a proper plan for jobs and growth, not punitive measures that make pensioners and the vulnerable, families, the unemployed and the working poor even worse off, while millionaires enjoy a tax cut.”