The politician in me loves Budget Day. The fresh figures announced, the surprise manoeuvres, the spontaneous responses. Budget Day is political theatre, with the central prop the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s iconic red briefcase, first produced for William Gladstone in 1860. If you’re the sort of representative that loves to be kept on their toes, Budget Day rarely disappoints, with economic rabbits usually pulled from hats at the dispatch box as the nation and the markets watch and react.

Last week’s Budget, however, left the citizen in me is sadly disappointed. After fourteen years of economic failure, crunch time is here, yet after considerable hype and suspense, all the Government served up was a lukewarm damp squib. Every single announcement had been briefed to the press in advance, no rabbits were pulled from hats, and all we were treated to was more of the same.

Micro answers to macro challenges. Giving with one hand and taking away with the other. Taxes are still rising, prices are still going up in the shops and mortgages are higher. Regrettably, nothing the Chancellor announced changed that baseline of fragility.

The Government’s rosy spin on the current state of the economy particularly irks. Rishi led us into recession, and almost everyone feels worse off. British people are not daft. Households will be £870 worse off under Hunt’s tax plan, giving the average Tameside home 5p for every 10p being taken from you.

This budget confirmed the UK has the highest tax burden in seventy years. Worse still, this will be the worst Parliament on record for living standards. It will be the only Parliament on record where living standards have fallen, ever. Real terms pay has gone up by just £17 a week over fourteen years of Conservative government. Under the last Labour government, wages rose by £183 a week over thirteen years.

As Shadow Business Secretary, I am working closely with Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves on a proper plan to get Britain an ambitious future back. One with growth not recession; wages rising; and a roadmap to success for every sector, from the creative industries to manufacturing.

What we need now is change of government, with fresh ideas and energy to steer us out of these challenges times and beyond. Next Budget Day, I hope to see Rachel Reeves as the first woman to carry that special red briefcase, announcing stronger solutions to make us all better off.