UK Politics

Chancellor promises to 'put fuel in the tank of the economy'

Andrew Grice: George Osborne slapped a surprise �2bn-a-year tax on North Sea oil companies to enable him to halt the spiralling cost of petrol and bring some relief to millions whose living standards are being squeezed.

Inside UK Politics

Budget 2011: Fuelling growth? new

Thursday, 24 March 2011

I have no doubt that the Plan for Growth the Chancellor announced, plus his commendable determination to tame the public finances, will raise the UK’s underlying growth arte, though the benefits will not be seen for many years.

Income tax: Help for the poor now - and for the rich in time

Thursday, 24 March 2011

Simon Read: Lower tax threshold raised but Osborne indicates 50p tax rate will not survive.

PM: Fuel-duty cuts a big decision new

Thursday, 24 March 2011

David Cameron insisted the Government was doing all it could to help hard-pressed families today.

Video: Ed Balls on the Budget new

Thursday, 24 March 2011

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls says the Budget will hurt families and fuel prices will rise with VAT.

Video: Boris Johnson's Budget thoughts new

Thursday, 24 March 2011

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, gives his views on the Budget.

Fuel tax: Respite from the relentless rise in fuel prices – for now

Thursday, 24 March 2011

There was some relief for motorists after the Chancellor announced a surprise reduction in fuel duties alongside an expected delay in a planned rise due next week.

The speech: What Osborne said – and what he really meant

Thursday, 24 March 2011

John Rentoul reads between the lines of the Chancellor's speech

Click to watch video

Miliband turns his fire on the Chancellor for cutting 'too far and too fast'

Thursday, 24 March 2011

Nigel Morris: Ed Miliband lambasted George Osborne as 'the wrong Chancellor' yesterday, accusing him of putting the recovery at risk and squeezing living standards by cutting public spending 'too far and too fast'.

Sin taxes: Blow to roll-your-own smokers

Thursday, 24 March 2011

The "price of vice" is to rise further as George Osborne looks to the familiar targets of smokers and drinkers to increase revenues. Particularly hard hit will be those who've looked to save money by rolling their own cigarettes – or buying cheaper brands. A 25g pouch of hand-rolling tobacco will rise by 10 per cent, taking a pouch to about £7.33. The price of the best-selling budget cigarettes will rise by around 50p per pack. In contrast, the price of a packet of 20 "premium" cigarettes, such as Malboro Gold, will rise by less. This is because Mr Osborne has increased the "per pack" and "per kilo" tax on cigarettes significantly, while at the same time cutting the percentage of tax which is paid proportionate to the price of the pack.