Brentford & Isleworth MP Ann Keen hailed yesterday's pre-budget report, which she claims will help more than 4,000 pensioners living in her constituency.

The health minister praised moves by chancellor Alistair Darling to increase child benefit, child tax credit and pension credit, along with a £10 boost to the annual Christmas bonus received by 15 million people nationally.

"Given the worldwide forces hitting the UK economy nationally and locally, I welcome the chancellor's budget proposals today - which mean real help to homeowners, to protect jobs and businesses," she said.

According to her figures, 4,004 pensioners in Brentford and Isleworth will benefit from a rise in pension credit of up to £130, while 9,100 families will get an extra £25 in the child element of the payment.

There was also good news for 24,805 children in 14,120 families, she added, who will benefit from a rise in child benefit being brought forward from April to January.

But Mary Macleod, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Brentford & Isleworth, said: "The pre-budget statement from Labour is bad news for residents of the Brentford and Isleworth constituency.

"They're already struggling with high fuel bills, mortgage difficulties and the worse excesses of this failing Labour Government. This latest tax bombshell means a black hole of £10bn in coming years.

"Labour have a secret tax bombshell set to explode under the British people if they ever get re-elected. It tells you all you need to know about Gordon Brown and Labour. It's time for a change."