If ever I was to miss a budget it could be argued today's was the one to pick. Or was it?
Let's ignore the sideswipe at the self employed - who the Tories obviously presume they can take for granted these days - and the pittance for care and education (barring grammar schools). Ignore too the relief on Making Tax Digital and business rates, which were exercises in postponing Tory made disasters. And then look at what was left. That was nothing. Nothing at all.
Of course I know this was supposedly the last spring budget meaning that the aim was to downplay it. And I know too that there was no political pressure to do anything, but then read between the lines.
What the white spaces say is that there will be no early election. The giveaways would have been much bigger if there were to be, and the pain on the self employed would have been deferred.
Next, note the growth downgrades: they don't signal anything like enough confidence to justify going to the country as yet.
And so take it as read as a result that the decision is to wait until 2020. Then May thinks that post Brexit all will be well and she will be swept to victory.
I suspect that's also how Gordon Brown felt in 2007, on balance, when he too proved shy of the electorate. And look what happened. He, of course, did not discuss recession in 2007. And Hammond did not discuss Brexit today. But the recession was the end for Brown as Brexit will be for May, I suspect. An election postponed is all too often one lost. Today, without anything being said, an election was postponed. And I can't see it being won as a result.
I have to say that with the Tories so far in the lead right now it takes some confidence to say that. And please don't presume I am suggesting a Labour victory as an alternative: I do not see that as inevitable, at all. What I see is a mighty mess but with the Tories, for all their current confidence, losing overall control because that's the punishment meted out to those who wreak havoc. And that's what they're intent on doing.
For May triggering Article 50 will be her finest moment.
For Hammond the quiet of today might be his finest moment.
The trouble is the rest of us will be suffering as they sink into a mire of their own making.
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I’ll not comment on specific aspects of the budget, which will be dissected ad nauseam by journalists and economists of all persuasions over the next few days.
Suffice to say it was what one would expect from this millionaire Tory Chancellor – who is Neo-liberal to the core.
One gets tired of restating that the government is econimically illiterate and either unconscious of or unconcerned about – or both – the long-term damage they are inflicting on the country. If, as you say, Brexit will be May’s undoing, then they won’t be around to pick up the pieces. Howver, until the Treasury (I suppose) gets serious about modern macro-economics, we’re stuck with this dangerous level of incompetence.
Can’t not mention Corbyn’s derisory despatch box performance. This, combined with s seemingly somnambulant electorate and a demonstrably uncritical MSM, could ensure a Tory government for the next 2 GEs – by which time, hopefully, the full damaging extent of their neo-liberal agenda and Brexit fiasco will have sunk home. And a new progressive opposition will have emerged as a political force to challenge the Tory hegemony.
If only we had PR we could at least hope for a ‘Jessiah’ (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/06/the-jessiah-dutch-progressive-populist-jesse-klaver)such as Caroline Lucas.
Yes indeed. Hammond is yet one more handmaiden to international capital ( ‘ the markets ‘ ) . His predecessor Osborne is to be paid £600,000 per year for three days work a month by BlackRock. All fully paid up members of the Davos club .
PWC will be able to confirm that no fat cats were harmed during the making of this budget.
What I found even more unbelievable was that Hammond found the time to make a joke during a budget that will be hurting people.
What is wrong with thes people?
Excellent! That is one for The Leader of the Opposition – well The Leader of any opposition.
Sorry – that was meant as a comment on the wonderful Fat Cats joke!
So, it’s austerity until 2025, when my eldest (my daughter) will be 22. My son will be 20.
Both punished for a rabid, under regulated debt selling market that began on Wall Street and a Government now forced to cut spending by the same financial sector it bailed out in 2008 because the bail out was so costly.
Where is the justice in that?
We all should be marching on Westminster and dragging the Government out and then the bankers. This budget is the last straw as far as I am concerned – the last insult. Unbearable.