posted on Mar, 12 2008 @ 02:43 PM
I must admit I was surprised at how 'good' the Treasury forecasts were.
Debt has not spiralled out of control (and remains historically low by post-war UK standards.....and compared to the record of the last tory Gov
)
and the UK economy will continue to grow @ 1.75% - 2.25% (which, amazingly, is growth at a rate not very far off of the post-war trend rate = 2 -
2.5%).
Inflation too remains under control (again rather surprisingly given the uK post-war record).
It was nice to see the child benefit increase, the winter fuel payment going up for pensioners (the over 80s extra bit was a pleasant surprise), there
was some more money for the MOD, some interesting proposals about vehicle duty for gas-guzzlers & there was a nice (kind) allowance for charities
which would have been facing losses on the tax relief they can claim back when the basic rate of personal income tax drops to 20p.
Nothing startling of course (but then that in itself is something of an achievement given the general economic climate in the world) but a rather
cool' steady as she goes' type of budget.
I would also say that I genuinely think we saw a very poor performance from the opposition in their responses.
Adnmittedly they have to do a lot of their writing on the hoof as the speech is being given but Cameron seemed so vague and weak and Clegg did the
usual Liberal 'all things to all men' thing.