Hitchin MP Bim Afolami has reacted to this week's budget.

The chancellor announced his budget in the House of Commons on Wednesday, vowing to 'protect jobs and livelihoods of the British people'.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed a series of initiatives intended to help the country emerge from the Covid crisis.

As widely expected, he extended furlough until September - but he also announced plans to increase the tax on large company profits from 2023, during his budget speech on Wednesday afternoon.

National insurance and VAT rates will not be increased as Mr Sunak said he would do 'whatever it takes' to support people and business.

Read on for what Hitchin's parliamentarian had to say about the budget.

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This constituency will benefit hugely from support needed to see us through to the end of the pandemic, writes Bim Afolami MP.

The budget focusses on key areas – protecting livelihoods, supporting businesses to reopen and propelling a greener economy.

The measures in the budget mean that individuals and small business will be more prosperous while generating more revenue to invest in our public services.

The self-employed, Arts sector and hospitality industry were all given significant boosts to their support packages and further grants will help to fund local priorities from Hitchin to Hamilton.