George Osborne writes on the Budget ...

Today I delivered a Budget that supports work. I wanted to write to you immediately to explain our plans and set out some of the key measures.

This is a radical, reforming Budget that helps Britain earn its way in the world. It is a Budget that rewards work, unashamedly backs businesses and puts us on the side of those who aspire to do better for themselves and their families.

SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES
I wanted to help working families on middle and lower incomes. That is why I today announced the largest ever increase in the personal allowance, a tax cut of up to £220 for 24 million income taxpayers next year. Together with previous increases, this means that this Government will have taken 2 million of the lowest paid out of tax altogether, and basic rate taxpayers will be up to £526 better off.

SCRAPPING THE DAMAGING 50p RATE
No Chancellor can justify a tax rate that damages our economy and raises next to nothing. This is why I also announced that we are reducing the top rate of income tax to 45p, so Britain no longer has the highest rate of income tax of any major economy.

This tax undermined our competitiveness and independent evidence has shown that it only raised a fraction of what was intended. The independent analysis is that the direct cost of cutting it is £100 million, and if you include the effect on other taxes it could be nothing. I am raising £500 million through new taxes on the wealthiest parts of society. We have already capped benefits, now we are capping income tax relief. We have also introduced a new stamp duty rate for properties worth more than £2 million, but we have not introduced a Mansion Tax.

ACTION ON CHILD BENEFIT
It cannot be fair for someone on £20,000 to pay for the Child Benefit of someone on £80,000. This is why I announced child benefit will be withdrawn when someone in the household has an income of more than £50,000. To prevent a cliff-edge, this withdrawal will be gradual, meaning only those households where someone earns more than £60,000 will lose all their child benefit. This means that 90 per cent of families will be eligible for child benefit.

TAX REFORM TO BOOST COMPETITIVENESS
This is a Budget that unashamedly backed business, large and small. We are simplifying small business taxes and I have also cut corporation tax again. This means we are on our way to a 22 per cent corporation tax rate - one of the lowest in the world. We are also backing British success stories with policies to help aerospace, pharmaceuticals, creative industries and energy.

STICKING TO OUR PLAN ON THE DEFICIT
Today I reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to deal with the debts left behind by Labour, which means we are spending over £120 million every day on debt interest. So I am sticking to the plan. Our credibility is helping to keep interest rates low for households and businesses around the country. If we listened to Labour's calls for more spending, more borrowing, and more debt we would risk a sudden loss of confidence and a sharp rise in interest rates.

For more details of the Budget, you can read my statement and the full document on the Treasury website here.

Finally, I'd just like to remind you on May 3rd we have the local elections, including the Mayoral contest in London. Please support Boris and get involved by visiting www.backboris2012.com.

Yours sincerely,

George Osborne
Chancellor of the Exchequer

Comments

Jim said…
It was a shame he failed to act in the interest of the 80% or so of the nation who asked for a significant cut in fuel duty.

This has been proven by the fair fuel campaign to be possible without costing the exchequer a penny.

To me the failure to act was almost a display of sheer political incompetence.
Chris Whiteside said…
Like you, I'd like to see further action on fuel costs. George Osborne had previously done something on this in an earlier statement, but it would be very helpful if he could have done more.

Trouble is, the mess this government inherited is such that, as you rightly pointed out on an earlier thread, there is a limit to the number of things they can afford to do.
Jim said…
I do understand there are limits, but (like most cumbrians) I didnt really care about the 50p tax rate, the mansion duty, or even so much about the raise in the income tax threshold.

I wanted and asked for a cut in fuel duty.

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