As expected, John Healey delivered a low-key ‘first do no harm’ pre-election Budget, with a few treats for voters and no nasty surprises for investors. But a ‘do some real good’ Budget was needed... The only ‘rabbit’ was a £100 ‘household energy payment’ for 20 million households in council tax bands A–D, costing £2.6 billion. … Continue reading Wary Chancellor presents a Ming Vase Budget
Tag: interest rates
Seven things to watch for in the Budget
Including thoughts on the OBR’s new forecasts and old Brexit assumptions, PuFIns, bank ‘windfall’ taxes, youth minimum wages, and why we actually need a ‘do some real good’ Budget. John Healey will probably be aiming for a low-key ‘first do no harm’ Budget: a few treats for households and businesses, with no nasty surprises for … Continue reading Seven things to watch for in the Budget
Weekly wrap – Budget fears might ease, but Brexit uncertainty is back
Including thoughts on the Budget, government bond yields, the folly of reopening the Brexit debate, some better news on UK growth, the OBR 15 years on, and Zack Polanski’s grasp of basic economics... Theme of the Week Labour sources are suggesting that the new Chancellor, John Healey, is set to delay ‘difficult choices’ with a … Continue reading Weekly wrap – Budget fears might ease, but Brexit uncertainty is back
Why raising the personal allowance would be the wrong tax cut
A large increase in the personal allowance would not be a good way to cut taxes, whether the goal is to boost economic growth or to help the poor, and regardless of how it would be financed. There is now remarkably broad support for a large rise in the standard Personal Allowance (PA), which is … Continue reading Why raising the personal allowance would be the wrong tax cut
