| Good evening, He told us, in a confident tweet, yesterday’s difficult pandemic-times budget would ‘level up’ the United Kingdom. So was Prime Minister Boris Johnson right? And if so, do the sums add up Lancashire? It was certainly a positive budget for potential first-time house buyers and those wanting to take advantage of the extended stamp duty tax break. Lancashire workers, businesses and tourism chiefs largely breathed a sigh of relief as the Chancellor unveiled a raft of measures, including extended furlough, to “protect the jobs and livelihoods of the British people”. And the business rates holiday and five per cent VAT rate enjoyed by hospitality and tourism businesses will also continue, allowing Lancashire businesses time to recover once coronavirus restrictions start to ease. Both Preston and Leyland had the Towns Fund money they had bid for confirmed - though arguably that money was promised long ago. Good news nonetheless. But there was no eagerly awaited mention of the Eden Project North - a potential game changer for the North West economy. Plus no pay rise was mooted for our hard-working public sector workers . And it’s not good news for all with small company directors who are paid in dividends left to survive alone. And how does all this 'level up' the United Kingdom? What do you think and how are you impacted? If you want to share your personal take for possible publication please email reporter James Holt at james.holt@jpimedia.co.uk And as always, you can contact me at nicola.adam@jpimedia.co.uk Kind regards, I'm off to do my sums. Nicola Adam Deputy Editor | 
