'We have been hammered'

Andy and Rachel Redfearn are typical of the "hard-working family" at the centre of today's pre-budget report.

Between them, the couple earn £2,800 a month before tax. But with mortgage repayments, a car loan and two children - Hannah, seven, and Joel, five - they cannot afford holidays abroad or an active social life.

Mr Redfearn, 36, who runs the YMCA centre in Wimbledon, believes Labour has failed middle England. "The burden of tax is on middle-oftheroad tax payers," he said. "We have been hammered by the rise in national insurance and, although we are fairly comfortable, we don't have a huge disposable income."

Mrs Redfearn, 37, works part-time as a lecturer in midwifery and looks after the children, who attend Arnhem Wharf state school. The Redfearns pay £600 a month towards the £80,000 mortgage on their Isle of Dogs home, £250 to pay off a loan for their Vauxhall Vectra, with ?100 a month going on petrol, tax and insurance.

With £400 going on food and charitable donations of ?300 a month the Redfearns are left, after tax, with just ?150 for socialising and the children's extra-curricular activities.

They are questioning whether they can afford to have another child.

Mr Redfearn said: "We are now precluded from getting more state support. If we were to earn a few thousand pounds less we would get a lot more help. If there was an extended sliding scale on income and family support it would make a real difference."