Is that receipts from council house sales ringfenced into new social housing? I hope so. The council in Birmingham has ballsed things up so comprehensively through ripping off its own female employees that it is now selling off assets and local residents have had a 10% rise in council tax - and will have another 10% next year. I bet lots of councils of all political colours in financial **** would just love to use these receipts to offset against their own incompetence.Yeah, the minimum wage increases are welcome, as is the move towards a single adult rate. I also liked the announcement on Right to Buy, where discounts will be reduced and local authorities will be able to retain the full receipts from sales, promoting reinvestment in more housing. Hopefully some of these receipts might also be used to help the poorest pensioners affected by the withdrawal of the WFA (disappointingly not addressed in the budget). Not sure why fuel duty is something that never gets increased. Still, a penny off a pint!
As you say, their tune must change now. It's down to this government now and they will be judged on how these policies impact growth between now and 2029.
Don’t get why duty on rolling tobacco goes up by 10%, more than any other kind of tobacco. Isn’t it more likely to be used by ‘working people’?