Tag: taxes

False economies on spending could be just as damaging as tax hikes

So far, the speculation ahead of the Budget on 30 October has focused on the scramble to find tax increases that might not breach Labour’s manifesto commitments, while still having some chance of actually raising some money. This is clearly not going well. Rachel Reeves may end up as the only economist in the country … Continue reading False economies on spending could be just as damaging as tax hikes →

Jeremy Hunt’s tightrope act could see the economy take a tumble

It’s usual for some of the contents of a Budget to leak out before the official announcement. This time, though, we already have a very clear idea of what’s coming on Thursday. The Prime Minister and Chancellor, and their backroom teams, have worked hard to prepare us for ‘difficult decisions’. The good news is that … Continue reading Jeremy Hunt’s tightrope act could see the economy take a tumble →

Are tax rises inevitable?

If you believe the smoke signals from the Treasury – and you probably should – the Budget on 17 November will have to include big increases in tax in order to plug a ‘black hole’ in the public finances. But is it inevitable that taxes will have to rise and, if so, what’s the best way to … Continue reading Are tax rises inevitable? →

The pros (and cons) of cutting VAT

Liz Truss is apparently mulling the ‘nuclear’ option of cutting the standard rate of VAT by five percentage points to support the economy. This has triggered a predictable backlash from my fellow policy wonks, led by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). However, in these extraordinary times, every lever may have to be pulled. The … Continue reading The pros (and cons) of cutting VAT →