I WAS, like most teachers, disappointed with the budget.

It highlighted how the clumsy use of words can result in the misinterpretation of an otherwise good intention.

Chancellor Philip Hammond’s announcement that he was making £400 million available for schools to use for the ‘little extras’ made him appear to be out of touch with the situation in many schools.

Now you don’t need to have a degree in maths to work out that when the £400 million has been dispersed amongst all UK schools it actually translates into a pitiful amount for each school and it will, I suggest, struggle to touch the sides.

I suspect in most schools it will actually be used to repair roofs, improve security fencing and the likes and little will be of direct benefit to children in classrooms.

However disappointed school leaders may have been with the Chancellor, one should be impressed by a certain politician who, following the budget, resigned her job.

Sports minister Tracey Crouch resigned over delays to crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed-odds betting machines.

The Budget announced that the cut in stakes from £100 to £2 would come into force in October, 2019, but Ms Crouch argued that pushing back the date was “unjustifiable” and it could cost the lives of problem gamblers.

She went on to point out that a staggering number of people with gambling problems take their own lives each year.

Fixed-odds betting terminals generate £1.8 billion in revenue a year for the betting industry, according to the Gambling Commission, and taxes of £400 million for the government. This is not to mention the misery, violence and in some cases abuse which is claimed to be associated with people suffering from gambling addiction.

Crouch tweeted: “Politicians come and go but principles stay with us forever.” She has, quite rightly in my opinion, received much praise for her courageous stance on this issue. Among those praising her on social media, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted that she was “principled and courageous” adding: “May God bless her commitment to doing right.

Much of politics, especially during the forever Brexit debates, must appear almost like white noise to young people today.

Many youngsters are apathetic towards politics and sadly there are also many who display antipathy towards politicians.

While this is probably a normal way in which youngsters view politics and has not become any worse or better in recent years it was heartening to see a minister take such a courageous stance and one which should appeal to young people.

Crouch is a role model for young people today and clearly very much in touch with social issues.

It is absolutely crucial that young people engage with politics and her actions are those that I hope impress young people and indeed all of us.

By engaging positively in current affairs and debate, we get a better understanding that the government doesn’t have a bottomless pit of money and needs to be constantly prioritising where best to spend.

This means, in simple terms, that there will always be winners and losers but by engaging, one has the ability to influence decision making and play a positive role in living in a democracy.

Young people should be grateful to live in a country where we can have views and stand up for our principles without fear of persecution. I would urge all young people to have an active interest in politics and current affairs and for parents to encourage this in their children.

Only by standing up for your principles will you achieve a real sense of meaning and purpose in life and I applaud Tracey Crouch for her actions and the example she has set us all.