Thread: Budget Day 2008

I see all the socialist types are having their say "Ban people carrier cars", "Don't hold off on the increase of fuel duty", etc.

Thankfully the majority of people are giving the government the trashing they deserve.

As somebody who is self employeed I'll be interested to see what the Budget has in for small business.

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For environmental reasons, fuel duty will rise by 0.5p per litre in real terms in 2010. He said he was postponing the 2p increase in fuel duty until October this year.

Borrowing next year will rise to £43bn, some 2.9% of national income, Mr Darling said. It will fall to 1.3% by 2012/13.

"It's vital that today our fiscal discipline ... that we borrow only to invest," the chancellor said.

He said that by 2011, investment will have increased by 500%, trebling as a share of national income.

Public spending in the coming three years will grow by 2.2% a year.

Mr Darling said an extra £2bn will be spent on troops in the frontline, including £900m on military equipment.

From April 2010, all long term recipients of incapacity benefit will attend work capacity programmes.

Spending in government departments must be matched by reform, Mr Darling said.

The focus for the next decade on the NHS will be creating "world class services".

Mr Darling said child poverty must be eradicated in Britain.

From October 2009, rules for housing and council tax benefit will mean families on benefit are better off in work. From April, 2009, child benefit will be increased to £20 a week.

Five million customers on pre-paid meters should get a "better deal". Energy companies should spend £150m on social tariffs.

The government will launch the "savings gateway" nationally with the first accounts available by 2010.

Cash ISA limit confirmed as £3,600 a year from April, Mr Darling said.

Corporation tax will fall from 38% to 28% by April this year, he said.

Mr Darling said there will be simpler taxes for small companies.

Funds available through the small firms loans guarantee will increase by 60% in the next year.

There will be a capital fund of £12.5m to encourage more women entrepreneurs.

Mr Darling said the government welcomed the contribution made by people from outside the UK. But non domiciled families should after seven years pay a "reasonable charge".

There will be £200m extra for schools to raise GCSE results, the chancellor said. By 2011, every school "will be an improving school". There will be a £30m fund to improve science.


Mr Darling said there will be £60m over three years for equipping people for the workplace.

New measures at Heathrow and other airports, using biometric technology, to speed up the time it takes to get through security checks.


Mr Darling said he is setting aside funding for testing proposals for road pricing.


From this April, key workers such as teachers and nurses, will be able to borrow money from shared equity schemes. Stamp duty on shared ownership homes will not be required until people own 80% of their home.


More people should have the chance to have a long term fixed mortgage, the chancellor said.


He said a report showed that long term fixed rate mortgages can reduce the risks for first time buyers and can keep them on the housing ladder.

Sites for 70,000 more houses have been identified, Mr Darling said.

He said consideration was being given to raising targets for emissions cuts to 80% by 2050.

Here we go, plenty of smoke and mirrors and introduction of Biometrics, more housing (probably on Green belt) and road pricing schemes...

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and more from beeb...

Mr Darling said laws will be introduced by 2009 to charge for using plastic bags unless supermarkets do it themselves.


£26m to help make homes greener.


New non-domestic buildings to become zero-carbon from 2019.

Asking the European Commission for tougher targets on car fuel emissions


From 2009, major reform of the vehicle excise duty. For new cars from 2010, the lowest polluting cars will pay no road tax in the first year. Higher polluting cars will pay more.

Cigarettes up 11p a packet.

Beer up by 4p a pint, wine 14p a bottle, spirits 55p a bottle and cider 3p a litre by Sunday.

Duties on alcohol will go up by 2% above inflation for next four years.

Winter fuel allowance will go up from £200 to £250 for the over 60s and from £300 to £400 for the over 80s.

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