Hammond delivered his first Budget for Sun Readers – and must not stop there
His fuel duty freeze is a big victory for our campaign. So is the scrapping of the hated “staircase tax” – which would have stung small businesses with offices over two floors.
WHAT a turn-up for the Treasury books. Chancellor Philip Hammond has at last delivered a Budget for Sun readers.
We have not been kind to his previous efforts. They promised much and delivered nothing, or worse.
Yesterday’s wasn’t exactly a bold blueprint for the future. The productivity figures and growth forecasts are dire. Pay could be below 2008 levels until 2025.
But to Mr Hammond’s credit the Budget WAS packed with measures we called for and which will put more cash in our readers’ pockets.
His fuel duty freeze is a victory for our campaign. So is the scrapping of the “staircase tax” which would have stung small firms with offices on two floors.
Booze is frozen too.
We were delighted he ruled out tax raids on small businesses or the self-employed — and punishment taxes for drivers of used diesels, imposing only a one-off rise on certain new ones.
There were decent hikes to the minimum wage and tax-free allowance. There was help to alleviate the scandalous six-week wait for Universal Credit.
We have repeatedly urged the Chancellor to plan for a “no deal” Brexit and he finally has — with £3billion.
Billions more were found to shore up the NHS. There were hugely welcome moves to make online sellers like eBay and Amazon responsible for VAT and to hammer the tax-dodging tech giants who shift UK profits offshore.
The Chancellor’s railcard for 26-30s is a great boost for Millennials. So is the abolition of stamp duty for first-time buyers on homes up to £300,000.
The Left rubbished it — they hate tax cuts — but it’s a decent saving for many.
Less impressive was the Chancellor’s remedy for the housing shortage. A new “review” into building delays doesn’t nearly reflect the problem’s urgency or scale. It will be years before we have the 300,000 new homes we need each year.
But Tory MPs representing NIMBY voters in the Shires plainly will not wear anything more ambitious, such as the Government financing and building houses on Green Belt scrubland. Mr Hammond’s hands appear tied.
MOST READ IN OPINION
Snarky cynics claim railcards and tax cuts will never lure Millennial voters back from a Corbyn regime promising endless freebies. We’re not so sure.
Many DO know socialism is ruinous. They just want change, and some sign of a Government finally listening to them.
Mr Hammond made a good start yesterday. He must not stop there.