After this week, the centrepiece of the financial year is being shunted to the Autumn. Good news, no doubt, for the city bigwigs, fund managers, chief executives and financial hacks and flacks who’d rather be betting on which horse will romp home at Cheltenham than which tax relief, pension allowance or benefit will be axed this time.
But for those wanting to take a punt on what will be in Philip Hammond’s Budget Box tomorrow, here are some likely runners and riders.
Despite having an extra billion or two to play with thanks to higher than expected economic growth and bumper tax receipts, it seems a racing certainty that there won’t be any big money giveaways. In interviews this weekend, the Chancellor made it clear that the increase in tax receipts was ‘fuel for the tank’ — and he gave a timely reminder on the size of the UK deficit.
He may have ditched George Osborne’s commitment to move into surplus by the end of this Parliament, but this doesn’t mean he’s going on a spending spree, particularly while the uncertainty of Brexit remains.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in