FOR the past 10 years I have worked with people experiencing homelessness in the city.

During that time public and private services have improved dramatically for this minority group, with legislation such as the Homelessness Act 2002 helping to balance statutory rights with individual responsibilities.

Further policy enacted locally called the ‘reconnection policy’ continues to strengthen this important balance.

Next year will see the much needed redevelopment of the Old Fire Station into a Skylight Centre, providing specialist education, training and a social enterprise cafe for our excluded citizens.

All this would not have happened without the present government being in power.

Wednesday’s budget makes sure that the wealthiest five per cent of our society are shouldering 60 per cent of all tax rises. This has to be right.

While the 10 per cent increase on cider will not go down particularly well with many of the clients I see, this rise is, never the less, definitely in their, and many younger people’s, best interests.

This is not the time to allow our country to be led by inexperience. We need to secure the recovery and that will be achieved by voting for proven professional experience over ‘hug a hoody’ air-brushed elitism.

Richard Lohman

Stanton St John