View from Blackpool 'There are so many families that live in poverty'

"It's not very helpful really," says Owen Sandford, 27, of the government's spring statement.

- Hannah Al-Othman

"I understand they've got a tough job, but we've got a tougher job trying to survive."

Sandford is in receipt of universal credit, and has been applying for work - but he is struggling. "There's so many families that live in poverty, that can't pay the bills, and are getting into debt.

"Energy keeps going up, council tax keeps going up, food shop is rising every week. The only thing not going up is my money."

Rachel Reeves' statement included sweeping welfare cuts, with the health element of universal credit frozen or reduced and a review of personal independence payments (Pips).

Lindsay Barlow, the chief executive of Blackpool charity Disability First, says: "We've received lots of emails and terrified phone calls.

"We have had to have suicide awareness training to help people who have been pushed to the brink, because it's people with mental health conditions that are really feeling the impact of these changes, because they're frightened."