CHANCELLOR GEORGE Osborne today said his brutal Budget would rescue Britain from disaster and pave the way for “future prosperity”.

Mr Osborne’s “tough but fair” plans, which he hopes will balance Britain’s books by 2015, have gone down well with business leaders in Shropshire – but public service union chiefs are not so happy.

As the Chancellor was on his feet in the House of Commons yesterday delivering the Budget which will cost the average family £400 a year, about 40 union members held a rally in Telford to protest at cuts to public services.

Brett Davis, president of Shropshire and Telford Trade Unions Council, said: “People are angry about the cuts and don’t feel that the workers should pay for the mess that the bankers have got us into.”

Welcomed

But more than 30 company bosses who gathered at a Shropshire Chamber of Commerce breakfast club meeting in Shrewsbury today broadly welcomed Mr Osborne’s plans.

Chartered financial planner Brian Benson, of Shrewsbury-based Crownwealth Management, said: “I think it is very good for business, especially new businesses.

“People on benefits and public sector employees are the ones it is going to hurt most but we have got a problem which needs sorting out.”

It is believed the impact of the Chancellor’s measures, which include raising VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent from January will not be fully felt for some time.

Mr Osborne said: “The biggest risks out there are the debts and unless we deal with the debts then this country will be on the road to ruin.” Shadow Chancellor Alistair Darling said: “If this goes wrong the consequences could be dire for many, many people and businesses in this country.”

By Simon Hardy