This years UK Budget...

[Stevepage]

So as ever I've been disappointed with the budget set by government. Fuel Duty will go up when prices are already rising quickly as well as more tax on things like alcohol (I'm not a big drinker but I can imagine that less people will be inclined to go to the local pub when it costs a lot for one drink).

It's great that tax allowance for low earners (like myself) will rise but really, I'd prefer a cut in duty/vat etc on essentials such as fuel which could possibly pick up the economy, even if it's only by a little bit.

What say you?

[Twinfan]

I pretty much agree with you to be honest!  Personal allowance increase is good news.

The child allowance limit of £60k for one earner in the family is WAAAAAAAY too high.  If I had my way I'd remove it altogether, but that doesn't win votes does it?  ;)

[nfe]

It was a pretty reasonable budget. I'm offended by aid for the families of those in the armed services, however. There is no reason for people to get extra help on the basis of what job their spouse does, only on the income they receive from it. Yet more "our heroes" bullshit.

[Afghan Dave]

It was a pretty reasonable budget. I'm offended by aid for the families of those in the armed services, however. There is no reason for people to get extra help on the basis of what job their spouse does, only on the income they receive from it. Yet more "our heroes" bullshit.

Yeah right... that's just unacceptable.  PDT_038

[nfe]

Yes. It is. Pandering to Daily Mail wanks. A surprise in a very sensible and hard to dispute budget, otherwise.

I'd be keen to hear any reasoning which justifies it other than "They're defending our freedom!!!!111!".

[dave_mc]

increasing the tax threshold is good, but combined with cuts in other places, arguably it's doing more harm than good to the very worst off (and even reasonably comfortably off).

i must actually look up what the rest of it is.

[Twinfan]

increasing the tax threshold is good, but combined with cuts in other places, arguably it's doing more harm than good to the very worst off (and even reasonably comfortably off).

i must actually look up what the rest of it is.

How can you say it's doing more harm than good then, if you don't know the full picture????  :?

If the very worst off don't have cars, don't smoke and don't drink (which they shouldn't be able to afford to do if they're the worst off) then they'll be better off with the increased personal allowance.

[Dmoney]

increasing the tax threshold is good, but combined with cuts in other places, arguably it's doing more harm than good to the very worst off (and even reasonably comfortably off).

i must actually look up what the rest of it is.

How can you say it's doing more harm than good then, if you don't know the full picture????  :?

If the very worst off don't have cars, don't smoke and don't drink (which they shouldn't be able to afford to do if they're the worst off) then they'll be better off with the increased personal allowance.

But if they want to eat, heat their homes, not use candles, and use public transport (especially trains)... then no, they won't be better off. The cost of all these things is going up faster than my wages at least, and I have a alright job.

[Twinfan]

^ the taxes on those things haven't changed in the budget (VAT mainly), so the increase in personal income tax allowance means you'll be better off.

[Dmoney]

What are you on about? the costs of some train fare alone goes up 10% a year. Not the VAT. I'm talking straight forward costs of basic things. Decent food. Public Transport. Since my girl left me and moved out, I've stopped putting my heating on unless other people are in my flat and I'm even very very careful about what plug sockets and lights I have on in my house. I haven't had a pay increase equal to inflation ever in my working life and as time goes on my employer has been making it more difficult to get any meaning increase. Whatever allowance, coupled with the speed at which my wage increases in relation to just average day to day living costs is making me feel less well off. Nobody can tell me I'm better off when my outgoings jump up as my income remains level. That just doesn't make any sense, and no, I don't have a car, I don't drink, and I don't smoke.

[nfe]

Top job in diverting attention from the NHS reform bill, this budget. Pretty devoid of any news, chuck in a £40,000 tax reduction for those earning a million quid and watch the news froth whilst it forgets you're privatising health further.

I think my favourite part of the budget is the eight Sundays of England pretending it's not a backwards theocracy one day a week.

[Dmoney]

Top job in diverting attention from the NHS reform bill, this budget. Pretty devoid of any news, chuck in a £40,000 tax reduction for those earning a million quid and watch the news froth whilst it forgets you're privatising health further.

^
Good point. There are probably all kinds of nasty things getting done right now while everyone is distracted.

[Twinfan]

What are you on about? the costs of some train fare alone goes up 10% a year. Not the VAT. I'm talking straight forward costs of basic things.

That's not got a lot to do with the budget as such, it's a result of inflation/exchange rates/increased population etc.

Most importantly, trains are run by private companies not the government.  The budget can't control the basic costs of those, just the tax on goods and services, hence my comment re. VAT.

And I didn't say you would be £1000s better off, just better off.  It's not a substantial difference to where we are now, but at least it's not worse.

Try this:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17442946

I'll be £70 a year worse off due to the petrol increase and a bit of alcohol.

[Dmoney]

I stand corrected. I'm off to splurdge the money generous george has given me on a sparkly new PRS.

[Twinfan]

A wise choice...