I’m not that worked up about the National Insurance increase. Sure, a tax on jobs is the best way to choke a recovery – but this is only due to come in April 2011 by which time Darling will be collecting the royalties on his memoirs. It only matters if the Tories support it, which (I hope) they won’t. It is a wee gesture, to help calm the bond markets. The only fiscally significant mive in this budget is the £550m they intend to raise from inheritance tax.
The giveaways are all planned from April next year – ie, they are little exercises in forcing the Tory hand. Extension of free school meals (£140m) the benefits uprating (£700m) – all things Brown would like a Tory government to do. And he may succeed. Osborne can order the scrapping of anything he likes, including the 50p tax, on day one.
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