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Forty per cent of people think Alistair Darling has delivered a good first Budget, despite a lacklustre reception.

A majority of inthenews.co.uk readers were, however, negative towards the government's economic package, with only 30 per cent expecting to be better off as a result of Mr Darling's reforms.

Notably those with a household income of less than £20,000 were more likely to say they would be worse off than better off after the Budget.

Lower income households not eligible for tax credits are likely to be affected by the tax cut in Gordon Brown's final Budget, with the 20p tax rate – and abolition of the 10p rate for the first £2,150 of income – coming into effect next month.

Without any dramatic tax cuts or sweeping hikes, the chancellor has been accused of targeting tax increases at smokers, drinkers and drivers in a bid to offset the slowing economy.

From Sunday, alcohol duties will add 14p to the price of a bottle of wine, 4p on a pint of beer and – for the first time in a decade – 55p to the price of a bottle of spirits.

As of 18:00 GMT last night, the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes increased by 11p.

Although Mr Darling has been accused by economists of portraying an overly optimistic vision of Britain's economic resilience, 75 per cent of respondents said they were still concerned about the direction of the economy.

Despite enjoying little economic room to manoeuvre, Mr Darling said his Budget would tackle the challenges of child poverty and climate change.

More than two in five respondents agreed the chancellor should primarily focus on low-income households, with a quarter calling on him to prioritise families in general.

More than 16 per cent said the chancellor should have used the Budget to help pensioners with the same proportion calling for a greater emphasis on first-time buyers.

Neither group can claim to have been totally ignored by the Budget, with Mr Darling announcing an increase in the winter fuel allowance and more opportunities for shared ownership.