麻豆约拍

As part of our coverage of 100 seats in the 100 days to the election, Norman Smith has been to Reading to speak to taxpayers ahead of the budget.

Tim Harding, the business manager of a local estate agency, is sceptical tax rises are the only way of reducing the deficit.

"The UK has got a massive deficit...there does have to be policies that aren't just about cuts, I think there are a range of tax loopholes that just need to be identified and closed," he said.

Others, including Andrew Cakebread who runs a local garage, are desperate to avoid a rise in VAT.

"It's almost like a swear word in some respects...[customers say] it if wasn't for VAT then it would be a very reasonable bill," he said.