Aspiration hopes score just two out of 10 for Chancellor

The 31-year-old, a quantity surveyor who works costing North Sea gas maintenance and repairs projects, believes the economy is in a shambles and yesterday’s budget only confirmed that view.

Mr Gunn, who rents a house in Hull city centre with his girlfriend, Safron Davies, 21, who works in retail, reckons politicians have lost touch with ordinary people.

He enjoys a pint or two but thinks the “penny off the pint” is literally small beer, and says the cost of fuel is still far too high, despite the cancellation of the autumn’s fuel duty increase.

“Both are PR stunts”, he said.

The cut in the growth forecasts confirms the sorry state of the economy, about which he has little optimism: “I just think the economy is only going to get worse. Politicians are not ordinary people. The cost of living is going up, fuel has rocketed in the last six years and salaries are staying static.

“I think the only way they think of sorting out the country is to tax, tax, tax.”

One of the few positive moves in the budget he thinks, was for first time buyers. He is looking to buy a house in the next 18 months, and supports the Government’s new mortgage guarantee scheme to help lenders lend to those with small deposits.

The Chancellor believes the move will support £130bn of mortgage lending.

Mr Gunn, who came to Hull six years ago, said: “I think it is good he has thought of first time buyers. I think they need to do more to increase construction, because they say if that starts growing again, then the economy will. Cities like Hull have really suffered and the Government doesn’t seem to be doing much.”

He supports the below- inflation rise to benefits as only fair – given his frozen income. But he still thinks benefits are too easy to get on and stay on: “My girlfriend works 16 hours and would be better off if she was claiming benefits.”

Although he gives George Osborne a paltry two out of 10 for his efforts, he is not sure Labour would do any better. “I think the Tories are trying to sort the economy out but I don’t think they are doing it the right way. I think they have the blinkers on.”