In this week’s budget the chancellor needed to do three things: shore up the recovery with a big investment package, act on the climate crisis and protect struggling families.

Larger than expected spending on public services was good news, but was overshadowed by a failure to mention the climate crisis just days before the UN climate summit. The chancellor said he wanted to build a new economy coming out of this crisis, and this was his chance. But instead he opted to slash fuel passenger duty on domestic flights and ducked the chance to bolster a flailing economy with a bold green stimulus programme.

And while he rightly cut the universal credit taper rate – as NEF had called for – our latest research shows that that the poorest fifth will still be £380 a year worse off due to his earlier £20 benefit cut. We continue to campaign for the policies Britain really needs, including a Living Income and a Great Homes Upgrade.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chief Executive, NEF