Decision to cancel fuel duty rise will make difference

Allan Arthur, 24, who lives in Leeds and works in Halifax, said the announcement would make a significant difference to him as petrol costs represented a major outgoing.

He welcomed news that the 3p fuel duty increase planned for January would be cancelled,

Mr Arthur also said that people had to “live in the real world” and accept that cuts in public spending were needed in order to get control of the nation’s finances.

He said that as a trainee teacher he could accept the Government’s decision to cap public sector pay rises to just one per cent when a current wage freeze ends.

“As someone starting my career I don’t have the mortgage to pay or people who are dependant on me.

“I think if you asked a teacher who was 10 or 20 years into their career they might give you a different answer.”

George Osborne told MPs that further restraint on public sector pay was needed from 2013 to 2015 and the two per cent rises could not be afforded.

Mr Arthur acknowledged this might make teaching a less attractive profession.

However he said: “In teaching you have more stability.

“You know that if you are professional you should not lose your job whereas in other jobs you would not have that stability.

“I think people have to live in the real world.

“It’s as clear as day that our economy is in a mess and everyone is going to have to make sacrifices.”

He also praised the Government for finding £1.2 billion to invest in schools and for doubling the number of free nursery places available to two year-olds.