A REDDITCH business property consultant said the Chancellor was attempting to “shut the curtains on the recession” with yesterday's Budget statement.

And John Truslove said he also questioned many of the Budget forecasts.

Mr Truslove said: “He talks about 600,000 new jobs being created, but I find that most unlikely … insulting even.

“And then there is the downgrading of growth by 50 per cent. But they always try and talk these things up so to my mind that probably means zero growth this year.”

And Mr Truslove was scathing of the decision to scrap the escalator on beer and at the same time cut the price of a pint by 1p.

“That really is small beer!” asserted Mr Truslove. “It is pointless – it makes no sense.”