{"id":1650,"date":"2024-03-03T11:14:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-03T11:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/hunt-tells-kuenssberg-i-will-only-cut-taxes-in-sensible-way\/"},"modified":"2024-03-03T11:14:57","modified_gmt":"2024-03-03T11:14:57","slug":"hunt-tells-kuenssberg-i-will-only-cut-taxes-in-sensible-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/hunt-tells-kuenssberg-i-will-only-cut-taxes-in-sensible-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Hunt tells Kuenssberg: I will only cut taxes in sensible way"},"content":{"rendered":"
Hunt tells Kuenssberg: I will only cut taxes in sensible way<\/p>\n
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Budgets are about choices. And the focus is sharper when they\u2019re likely to be the last major fiscal event before voters cast judgement at the ballot box.<\/p>\n
Put simply, the chancellor makes his pitch promising money; the country decides whether it’s convinced.<\/p>\n
“Steady as she goes,” seems to be Jeremy Hunt’s offer.<\/p>\n
No firm answers today on whether National Insurance would be cut, or Universal Credit increased. Nor any clues about childcare reform, taxing non-doms, helping businesses, or restoring tax-free shopping for tourists.<\/p>\n
For now the rabbits stay in the hat. But expect firecrackers rather than fireworks on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“A prudent and responsible budget for long term growth,” was the telling phrase. No doubt learning the lessons of his predecessor that promising to giveaway what you don’t actually have yet, tends not to end well.<\/p>\n
And the pot to play with has dwindled too. From \u00a330bn six weeks ago, down to an estimated \u00a312.5bn according to the independent forecasters the OBR.<\/p>\n
So with the need for a \u00a36bn cushion to ward off any nasty surprises, Jeremy Hunt has about \u00a36.5bn to offer up.<\/p>\n
But having less money to go around might actually give us a clearer idea of where the government’s priorities lie, and who they think are the most crucial key voters to help swing them the election.<\/p>\n
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