Jordan's Journal

Yesterday, the Prime Minister launched this year's Armed Forces Day campaign. During his visit to Afghanistan, Gordon Brown unvielled a specially-designed flag to celebrate this new annual event, which takes place on 27 June.

Armed Forces Day is opportunity for the nation to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community. That includes currently serving troops, service families and veterans. Here in Colchester, and across the county, people are getting involved in local events to celebrate and support the work of our armed forces. Hundreds of councils have already pledged to raise the Armed Forces Day Flag on 22 June, to begin a week of celebrations in honour of the Armed Forces.

In Colchester, we are proud of our history as a garrison town and many people in our town consider the regiments who are based at the garrison to be 'our' soldiers. I'm sure everyone will join me in using Armed Forces Day as a chance to say thank you to our service personnel.

From veterans to recruits, Armed Forces Day is about celebrating our nation’s Armed Forces – past, present and future.

Today's Budget has shown how our Labour Government is delivering real help now. The Government wants to help people, especially young people, get back into as quickly as possible, and support businesses and homeowners who are facing problems during the economic crisis.

The Budget also supports investment in the growth industries that will help build Britain’s success in the future.

I believe that if we don’t act now, the economic crisis will cost us all more in the long run. And that's why I welcome today’s Budget, a Budget that supports employment, a Budget that supports individuals and a Budget that supports the environment. Building on the support that the Government has already made avaliable – including the income tax and VAT cut - new measures in the Budget will help people in Colchester deal with the economic difficulties.

The Budget announced support for employment, including offers of a guaranteed job, training or work placement for all 18-24 year olds who reach 12 months unemployed. Also announced is more support for individuals, with increases in the limit for Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), additional payments alongside the Winter Fuel Payment and increasing the limit on the level of savings for the Pension Credit, which helps thousands of people in Colchester.

This year's Budget is also a 'Carbon Budget', with measures that will help protect our environment. These include setting the world’s first carbon budgets and measures to encourage energy efficiency and low-carbon growth.

Unlike the Conservatives, who would do nothing to help people through the economic difficulties now, Labour has the confidence to invest in the recovery.