In a vape shop in Bramley town centre, the popular flavors can sell out quickly. The area is a smoking and vaping hotspot, above the national average, and it is also in chancellor Rachel Reeves’s constituency of Leeds West and Pudsey. One customer asked for blueberry flavor, mentioning she had been smoking since she was 11 and was happier vaping instead. She mentioned that the price of vapes would increase by 2% above the retail prices index, but still found it cheaper than cigarettes.
The cashier mentioned that older people who had quit smoking due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were frequent visitors to the shop. Bramley has high rates of COPD, heart disease, obesity, and mental health problems. The ward, previously dominated by mills and factories, is one of the more deprived areas in the city and in need of Reeves’s promise to “invest, invest, invest.”
Outside Greggs, Steve Cook, a retired part-time driver for the charity Bramley Elderly Action, expressed his approval of the chancellor’s budget. He mentioned that after the winter fuel payment cut, there was discontent among his friends, but with the recent budget, Reeves had redeemed herself in his eyes.
With the state pension set to rise by £470 a year, it would make a difference for Cook as he is only breaking even. He mentioned that some of his passengers would benefit even more from this increase. Samantha Krylczuk, a Labour supporter, also praised the budget, hoping for positive changes to combat the ongoing cost of living crisis.
While the price of beer is expected to fall due to a 1.7% cut in draught duty, Krylczuk expressed a desire for measures to help people lead healthier lifestyles given the expensive healthy food options. The news of the minimum wage rise by 6.7% was welcomed by Francis Sawali, a support worker for people with learning disabilities.
Shepherd Kwenda, a mechanical engineering student, shared concerns that the increase in wages could lead to higher prices, affecting overall expenses. However, he hoped that this move would stimulate the economy. Amelia Matthews, an assistant manager at Costa Coffee, was thrilled about the minimum wage rise as it would allow her to work fewer hours and focus on her studies in mental health and counseling.
As a student who has had to work full-time to support herself, Matthews appreciated the positive impact of the wage increase. She eagerly shared the news, urging others to spread positivity and make people’s day brighter. The local constituents in Bramley expressed a mix of reactions to the chancellor’s budget, with many appreciating the benefits it would bring to their lives.
