Designer questions wisdom of corporation tax reduction

Ms Sutcliffe, from Sheffield, said: “I do have a car, but rarely drive for environmental reasons. The high petrol prices in recent months have put me off even more.

“It’s a relief that the 3p duty rise has been scrapped, but I can’t help thinking that the focus should be on improving public transport.

“My brother, who has Asperger’s syndrome, has been left stranded twice in the last month as a result of weekend engineering works, so I’m pleased to see an extra £15bn is to be spent on new road, rail and construction projects by 2020.”

The 30-year-old, who has recently launched her own interior design business “The Freedom of Birds”, said she was “conflicted” by a cut in corporation tax as it “could result in big businesses having their pockets lined.”

“I need to work out how the changes in national insurance and tax relief for small companies will affect me”, she added.

“I think it’s important to breathe new life into small businesses, as so many have gone under in recent years.

“People have been put off starting businesses due to the fear of financial pressures and failure.”

She added that tax relief on childcare for those earning up to £150,000 was “ludicrous”, as “there are better ways to spend money than subsidising childcare for the very wealthy.”