UK Budget 2009

[centurian]

20% vat is not going to happen

Bet it will - just it will be deferred until mid 2010* to (delete as appropriate)

a) "allow the recovery time to take hold"
b) ensure the Tories get the blame for it


* i.e. anytime after May 2010

[Cyberman]

So you really think that the chancellor of exchequer would get up in the Commons, annouce what seems to be big tax cut to rapturous applause only for it to end up being a tax rise in reality.

It might wrong-foot the opposition for a few minutes, but the number crunchers would work out the reality pretty quick and I am sure it would come back to bite him.

I can't believe that a chancellor would be that stupid. Only a complete imbecile would try somthing like that

Does the 10% tax band abolition ring a bell, or perhaps the removal of dividend tax credits from pensions in 1997 ?

[minestrone]

Na, 20% will not happen, they know they buggered up lowering it but they will be slaughtered if they put it up, if it goes more than 17.5 they will get totally slaughtered.

This is a budget to get elected, not one to fix the country.

[centurian]

Does the 10% tax band abolition ring a bell, or perhaps the removal of dividend tax credits from pensions in 1997 ?

Clearly my attempt at irony was just a tad too sublte

[Gonzo]

This is a budget to get elected, not one to fix the country.

What is the betting that they defer as many hard decisions as possible now, then go to the country in the autumn before they are forced to admit how bad things have really got?

[minestrone]

What is the betting that they defer as many hard decisions as possible now, then go to the country in the autumn before they are forced to admit how bad things have really got?

I think 100%.

[Cyberman]

Clearly my attempt at irony was just a tad too sublte

I had a feeling that you were being ironic, as surely nobody apart from Sasguru could be that stupid.

[centurian]

I think 100%.

Exactly, hence 20% VAT rate will be postponed so as "not to stifle the recovery".

Don't think it will happen at this budget, but as December gets nearer, I think a 6 month extension of the 15% rate is definately on the cards - and that will need to be paid for, which means a higher than 17.5% rate when it comes back.

[Cyberman]

What is the betting that they defer as many hard decisions as possible now, then go to the country in the autumn before they are forced to admit how bad things have really got?

hahahahahahaha.... it's a bit late for that don't you think. Only somebody that has been trekking through jungles for the past ten years could possibly be unaware of the economic mess we are in.

[centurian]

hahahahahahaha.... it's a bit late for that don't you think. Only somebody that has been trekking through jungles for the past ten years could possibly be unaware of the economic mess we are in.

Living on benefits / working for the public sector

Probably about 30% of the electorate - and getting higher by the day. That's quite a few votes in the bank.

This race ain't over yet. Cameron's on pole, but he still has to drive it over the line without spinning off the track (been watching F1 this morning)