A Wiltshire MP has defendent the government after last week's controversial "mini-budget". 

Conservative MP for Devizes Danny Kruger said it "looks bad short-term but in the longer-term things will get better".  

This comes after the announcement of the new economic plan was followed by market turmoil.

Mr Kruger was speaking to this newspaper before this morning's u-turn over scrapping the top tax rate. 

He said: “The ambition to boost growth and attract investment into our firms is the right one and I think the government is on the right track. 

“In the short term we have very understandable anxieties around mortgage costs and the potential impact on households as a result and that’s why it’s important that the bank has stepped in, and we need to ensure that current turbulence in the market subsides.”  

Mr Kruger said commentators were overlooking the vast amounts of money the government is putting into the energy price cap to ensure the average household is not paying more than £2,500 annually unless they use extra amounts, which dwarfs sums involved with tax cuts.  

He added: “The government has made far more money available through the support package for families in terms of the cost of living than it is going to be cutting taxes.

"The spending outweighs the tax cuts very significantly so while I don’t want to underplay the strain families are going to be under, there is a very significant package in place for households.

"I’m confident over the winter we’ll see pressures on the economy start to subside and over the long-term we’ll see the benefits of the stimulus package.”  

Commentators are saying the support package could reduce inflation by four or five per cent. 

But Mr Kruger does not think the recent financial turmoil has cost the Conservatives the next election and added: “When you make radical changes it’s understandable people are dismayed. But the government needs to show this plan is working. The proof will be evident in months rather than weeks.” 

He believes Wiltshire will weather the storms and said: “The foundations of the Wiltshire economy are strong. We have such innovative companies here.

"We also have a large military presence.

"I’m pleased the government has pledged to increase spending on the armed forces to three per cent of GDP, which will boost the size of the army and the standard of living of our soldiers and their families.

"I think Wiltshire has a lot to be confident of.”   

He did not think the mini-budget had put the military commitment at risk.