Gordon Brown has today unveiled the date for the next budget as being the 24th of March. This budget could be pivotal in deciding the election.
It goes without saying that it will be laced with electioneering spin and will try to distance Labour from the Conservatives in the run up to the election which many, including myself, are suggesting will be on May 6th. Creating such a party divide is a difficult task given that both parties are fighting over middle ground, though.
Will it be a budget packed with doom for the middle classes once again, or will Gordon make promises in order to “buy” votes for Labour? Will he introduce more taxation aimed at the so-called super-rich in order to appease the envious grass-roots Labour activist?
Will there be the often forecast rise in VAT to 20%?
He’s already said that he wont be cutting immediately, despite calls from the CBI director general to do so.
I think there’s going to be one thing that Gordon will give back which he will hope is a silver bullet to offset the pain and suffering we’re going to have to endure to pay back his rash borrowing over the last 12 years. After all, if there isn’t, then I can’t for the life of me think why he didn’t call the election and have the next Government do the budget.
But what could it be?
Its time for some sweeteners, who’s going to get a lollipop?
After Gordons many years in power and my many years listening to such rot, the budget will consist of the following.
1) A long speech that is full of political spin and no substance. Hard working families will be mentioned several times along with the economy being in a fragile state due to worldwide factors (though the government will be fixing the entire world’s problems single-handedly)
2) Several amounts of money will be promised to favoured groups. These amounts will already have been promised at least three times with none actually being spent.
3) International development will get another handout so that he spends what little money we do have (because we’ve borrowed it) elsewhere
4) Lots of nasty measures will be in it – but in leaflets put up on the Treasury website without having been mentioned at all in the budget speech
5) I estimate a speech of around 45 minutes to one hour.
6) He’ll forecast a ridiculous % for expected economic growth
7) There’ll be no rise in VAT this time (it was expected in Jan but was rejected for political reasons) but he’ll attempt to reassure the city with promises to make debt repayments out of some magical efficiency savings he’s identified but not going to comment on. Maybe threaten to tax non-doms more – but if any tax goes up it will possibly be sneaky or aimed at lower earners or both like the basic rate tax swap for 10% taxpayers, increasing National Insurance, increasing the rate of tax for very small companies but delayed a bit to show how compassionate he is for them in a recession – and more green taxes especially on motorists.
lol, classic. And probably not far off the mark.
i agree.
bound to me the sly tax rises with somesort of delay tatic probly also.
if petrol goes up again ill punchout a postman… and its bound to go up
spot on frustrated, BNP get my vote, thanks to Gordon!
How did I do?
1) Global recession mentioned in first sentence. Families mentioned several times but they are no longer “hard-working”. T o be fair I think it’s more Gordon that calls them that – Darling must think most of them are lazy now. Three quarters of a tick
2)Money promised to first time buyers via no stamp duty. Given that they have to buy a house worth more than £175k to have had to pay any anyway and no bank’s lending much still it’s no wonder he thinks it won’t cost much. Gimmick of 5% stamp duty on £1million plus properties – they already pay 4% and there’s not that many of them around. Money promised for wind farms (£60million) sure this has been promised before – but surely we could have it for free if it ran on the hot air coming from the Houses of Parliament? Reannouncements on road repairs and university modernisations (out of existing funds no doubt) Tick
3)No new announcement on international development – but announce as they give it – Cross
4)Delayed increases in fuel and increase in alcohol, tobacco announced. National Insurance to rise (delayed) so dreaded extra “tax on jobs” if Labour stay in power. limits frozen. Not much hidden – probably due to election. Cross
5) Speech lasted about an hour – tick
6) Estimated growth couldn’t find but all economic estimates look extremely dodgy – half tick
7) Spot on. VAT not risen (yet) NI rises and green taxes rise but delayed, Income tax bands and IHT bands frozen – big tick
Not bad predictions – so why did we have to have this budget?
A bit harsh on myself there. Personal allowances have been frozen as well as tax bands and removed from those earning £100k. Extra £3 billion contribution needed for the EU – partly because Blair handed back our rebate for our increased influence (anyone noticed that actually happen?) and partly because the £ has been massively devalued and we have to pay in Euros. The fact that this is still a reason when the Euro’s in a mess with Portugal’s sovereign credit rating being downgraded and Greece’s well-publised problems shows just what a terrible mess this country is in.
Petrol is sneaking up all the time just now despite no real gains in the price of Oil. We’re being fleeced left right and centre, and this vile excuse for a government are the main ring-leaders.
Frustrated has it spot on. We’re going to be told that the road is going to be bumpy but we have to “stick together” and let him rebuild us etc etc. Excusing the fact that his “prudence” was one of the main catalysts for the shit that we are in.
He’s the man who sold our gold and destroyed our pensions. His party has seen our streets less safe, our borders more open than ever before and yet amazingly it looks like we’re going to be saddled with 5 more years of him and his soundbites.
I cant be the only one bloody sick of hearing about it being a “global” recession. So was the one at the start of the 80s, but as far as Labour were concerned it was all those evil Tories.
Some of them still blame Maggie to this day.
As a Scot who lives right next to Brown’s constituency I honestly cannot convey in mere words my utter contempt for him.
well said JR, truly excellent.
Couldn’t have put it better myself JR Ewing. I am so so sick of Brown and Labour blaming everything on Maggie and the Tories. These fuckers have been in for 13 years and Labour supporters seem to selectively forget that when they feel like a rant.
What they forget is that they inherited a fantastically strong economy in 1997. Rode their luck on the back of that for a good few years and slowly but surely did what Labour always do – fuck things up.
In 79 at least the voters had the guts to get rid of them. Sadly it looks like the Class of 2010 are going to give them yet another chance.
If only Cameron could display some bollocks instead of pussy footing around dodging questions for fear of causing “offence” to the liberal left then I’m sure the Tories would once again sail up in the polls.
Who knows though if it’s that close and Mr Griffin displaces Mrs Hodge, we might even see the party in power almost begging for the support of a BNP MP !!
It annoys me so much the thought of Brown and Liebour staying in, the only good thing I can say is that for once they will have to clear up their own mess but then again looking at Brown’s ‘recovery’ plans he wants to keep on spending which is just ludicrous and then a new Government will take over in 2015 with the economy in an even worse state. LABOUR OUT 2010!!!!
That would please me cos I hate Margaret Hodge,its Camerons lack of backbone that is driving people like me to the BNP.
Cameron is NOT a conservative any more than Frank Bruno was caucasian.
labour helped screw the economy,FACT.
What about the 3,000,000 plus unemployed they inherited and the 15% + interest rates etc. etc.
Following Camerons performance in parliament today he could get a job as a comedian on north pier. or the tower circus.
Why do we get a lot of our money for what, to do a cabaret act instead of running the country. The country has problems so why prat about?
Yes he doesnt inspire confidence, does he?
why not Vince Gable, as the next chancellor?
Thing is I have yet to meet a Labour supporter who can come up with any better reason for voting for them other than “They’re better than the Tories”.
I find it impossible to find anything with anything good to say about them.
I really honestly cant even try to imagine what it must feel like to be off the mindset that you could actually walk into a polling booth and vote for 5 more years of these clowns.
We’re almost terminally ill at the minute. However, we’ll be 6 feet under by 2015 if this man is allowed loose with the purse strings again.
We will be buried in debt and mass immigration.
Well said JR ad Harold, another stupid reason for voting Labour is when people vote based on class such snobbery really really annoys me. When Liebour supporters make silly remarks like ‘I don’t want that posh boy and his Eton Cabinet getting in’. Grow up you silly childish people, you should vote based on politics not what school a politician went to, it is so childish. Most Labour MPs went to public schools including two of the most prominent hardcore socialists in Labour history Clement Atlee and Michael Foot, so Labour supporters don’t you preach to us about Tory toffs.
Has labour EVER had a good economic record?
They inherited a good economy from John Major
Have they EVER really sorted out the economy or IMPROVED it?
The gini coefficent which measues INEQUALITy got worse under labour whereas under John Major improved.
It you want less inequality in social and economic spheres, DONT VOTE LABOUR!