Was the Budget too little, too late
Jeremy Hunt bounced around delivering his Budget, proudly declaring his commitment to tax cuts and supporting working families.
Another 2p was chopped off National Insurance and the threshold at which child benefit is removed was raised from £50,000 to £60,000.
But you don’t need to be a financial expert to know that the Chancellor’s version of events isn’t quite the whole story.
Because Mr Hunt is also presiding over a long-term stealth tax freeze to thresholds that is costing workers dear and his child benefit move merely kicked sky-high marginal tax rates down the road, rather than getting rid of them altogether.
Nonetheless, a tax cut and an extra £5,000 Isa allowance – even if it’s a slightly iffy, limited one – is not to be sniffed at.
So, was this an escape velocity Budget that puts Britain back on the path to growth?
Or was it too little, too late, from a Tory party that has sported successive Chancellors who have been keener to raise our taxes by hook or by crook rather than cut them – or even just keep thresholds in line with inflation.
On this week’s Budget special This is Money podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert look at the winners and losers and go searching for the devils in the detail.
What is the NI cut worth to you? Will you get some child benefit back? Did pensioners deserve a tax cut too? With a failure to reverse his capital gains and dividend tax raid, what has the Chancellor got against small investors?
And will the British Isa be any good?
All that and more – plus a look at why Nationwide is buying Virgin Money and whether that’s good or bad for us all.
Related articles
Nutrition experts add traffic light health labels to famous food paintings
Whether it's an overflowing basket of apples, a giant mound of butter or several cans of tomato soup2024-05-07China Highway collapse kills at least 48 in Guangdong
BEIJING (AP) — The death toll climbed to 48 on Thursday as search efforts continued in southeastern2024-05-07Eva Longoria looks much younger than her 49 years in a strapless, figure
Eva Longoria showed off her sensational figure in a long, strapless, curve-hugging red dress.The Des2024-05-07- Jessie J and her partner Chanan Safir Colman welcomed a son named Sky last May.And the singer, 36, s2024-05-07
A.I. reveals who's REALLY winning the Drake vs Kendrick beef
Drake and Kendrick Lamar's ongoing beef has left their devoted fans utterly divided over who's winni2024-05-07Rosamund Pike jazzes up her semi
She's usually spotted in chic classic outfits. However, English actress Rosamund Pike, 45, chose to2024-05-07
atest comment