THE MP for Knebworth has backed the Government’s budget – which saw fuel duty cut by 1p.

Stephen McPartland, the Conservative MP for Stevenage and whose constituency also includes Codicote and Datchworth, described George Osborne’s budget as “great news for local people” after it was announced that fuel duty would not only be frozen as expected, but cut by a penny.

The Government will also introduce a fair fuel stabiliser, which will raise �2billion in taxes from North sea oil producers in order to pay for the price reduction.

Mr McPartland also praised the freezing of council tax, and an increase in personal tax allowance.

Mr McPartland said: “I am delighted we have frozen council tax, scrapped Labour’s fuel duty escalator, reduced fuel duty by a penny, introduced the fair fuel stabiliser and increased personal tax allowances. So in just 9 months the Government has taken 1.1 million people out of tax altogether.

This is great news for local people, they will have more money, more jobs, more training and more educational opportunities.

He added: “With the pupil premium, funding for apprenticeships and slashing of bureaucracy for small businesses, we are reducing the gap between education and employment at the same time as giving local businesses the confidence to employ local people.”