Budget date announced
This year’s Budget will be on March 16, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has announced.
The announcement came in a written ministerial statement early this morning.
As March 16 is a Wednesday, the Budget will be delivered at 12.30, after Prime Minister’s Question Time.
A March budget increases the likelihood of a general election this spring and will serve to harden the speculation surrounding a May 5 polling day.
It is also likely to kick off the start of campaigning proper, as Tony Blair has repeatedly said that Labour will make its tax and spending commitments after the Budget.
Public finances are set to be a hot topic in the campaign. Labour will be seeking to capitalise on the strength of the economy and promise increased investment in public services.
But, the Conservatives claim there is a ‘black hole’ in the public finances and that Labour would have to put up taxes after the election. Michael Howard has said the Tories would continue to invest in public services, but dramatically cut central government waste.
Labour says that the Conservatives sums do not add up, and have accused them of planning a ‘slash and burn’ of public services.
