Cliff Ainsworth has run Trafalgar News for seven years and is a basic-rate taxpayer.

He was previously sales director for a large national company but decided to be his own boss.

He finds there is as much red tape affecting small businesses as larger concerns.

As the owner of a newsagent in Trafalgar Street, Brighton, he feels the Government does not pay enough attention to the problems encountered by people like himself.

Mr Ainsworth, 50, said: "I am pleased to hear about the help for small businesses on the VAT issue. The increase of £52,000 to £54,000 is no different to that announced last year but it is still encouraging there appears to be assistance for those of us who turnover up to £100,000."

He gave up smoking at the beginning in January and he and his wife drink a bottle or two of wine a week.

He has a mortgage but there is no longer any tax relief offered to people buying their own homes.

He drives a Mitsubishi Space Wagon with a 2000cc engine which does not qualify for the vehicle excise duty discount for cars with smaller engines.

He has two grown-up children and a wife who works.

The Budget has made little change to his finances. He and his wife will be £130-a-year better off due to the changes to income tax basic rates and petrol.