A Ringwood law firm has criticised the Spring Statement for lacking "business-friendly measures."

Ellis Jones Solicitors, based in Monmouth Court, said the statement offered "little or no comfort" to businesses.

Nigel Smith, managing partner, said: "Business-friendly measures were conspicuous by their absence in the Spring Statement.

"The government’s mantra of ‘kickstarting economic growth’ rang rather hollow with very little for businesses, especially SMEs who make up 99.8 per cent of the business population.

"It offered little or no comfort for such firms who will be most impacted by such government policies as the brutal hike in employer National Insurance contributions.

"A U-turn on this policy was unlikely but some measures to give business added support and a pathway forward to the growth the government so desperately needs would have been very welcome."