Responding to the Budget, Aakash Naik, Head of Climate Justice at Greenpeace UK, said:

“The Budget was this Chancellor’s last chance to tackle the scale of the climate and economic crises the country faces, but he’s completely botched it. Refusing to invest properly in the green economy of the future is a huge mistake. These short-termist giveaways will do almost nothing to address our grossly unfair tax system, ease the cost of living, boost our stagnant economy, or tackle the climate crisis.

“Right now, we live in a topsy turvy world where billionaires pay tax at lower rates than ordinary working people, and fossil fuel companies receive around £3bn in government production subsidies every single year, whilst they destroy our planet. This budget will do nothing to address this injustice.

“We urgently need a fairer tax system, one that closes loopholes, taxes wealth at the same rate as income, and ensures the super-rich and big polluters pay their fair share. This, plus borrowing to invest in a safe future with a bold green industrial strategy for public transport, renewables and home insulation would boost jobs, help the cost of living and grow our flailing economy.”