Budget 2015: George Osborne says Britain can 'walk tall again' in final pitch to voters

George Osborne made his final pitch to voters with a handout to savers and first time buyers as he declared Britain could finally "walk tall again" after the years of austerity.

In his final Budget before the general election, the Chancellor announced a new personal allowance which would mean 95% of all savers would pay no tax on their savings.

And he said that he was creating a new help-to-buy ISA which would see the Government add £50 to every £200 first-time buyers put away towards a deposit.

He confirmed tax cuts via a rise in personal allowances, cut beer, cider and spirit duties, and again scrapped the fuel duty rise.

And the Chancellor said the "the sun is starting to shine" as he said the period of austerity would end a year earlier than forecast.

But Labour leader Ed Miliband, responding to the Budget speech, said there had never been such a large gap between the Chancellor's rhetoric and the reality of people's lives.

He condemned Mr Osborne for failing to mention investment in the NHS or public services.

And he told MPs: "This is a Budget people won't believe from a Government that is not on their side - because of their record, because of their instinct, because of their plans for the future."

Press Association