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| Parties draw Budget battle lines | Parties draw Budget battle lines |
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| Shadow chancellor George Osborne has attacked Labour's "empty" Budget and lack of "vision" as the election battle lines are drawn up around the economy. | Shadow chancellor George Osborne has attacked Labour's "empty" Budget and lack of "vision" as the election battle lines are drawn up around the economy. |
| Mr Osborne told the BBC: "Where is the leadership to get this economy moving?" | Mr Osborne told the BBC: "Where is the leadership to get this economy moving?" |
| But Chancellor Alistair Darling said Labour's policies were "bearing fruit" and said Tory spending cut plans "risk tipping" the UK back into recession. | But Chancellor Alistair Darling said Labour's policies were "bearing fruit" and said Tory spending cut plans "risk tipping" the UK back into recession. |
| The Liberal Democrats say Labour and the Tories were both "in denial" about the scale of spending cuts needed. | The Liberal Democrats say Labour and the Tories were both "in denial" about the scale of spending cuts needed. |
| Mr Osborne said the Conservatives would set out further details of how they would cut Britain's deficit at a faster rate than Labour before the general election, adding that they would place more emphasis on spending cuts than tax rises. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What we want is a mandate to deal with the largest deficit in the G20... to get the economy moving again." | |
| The comments came as Mr Darling, Mr Osborne and Lib Dem treasury spokesman Vince Cable toured television and radio stations to give their verdicts on Wednesday's Budget. | The comments came as Mr Darling, Mr Osborne and Lib Dem treasury spokesman Vince Cable toured television and radio stations to give their verdicts on Wednesday's Budget. |
| 'Run out of money' | 'Run out of money' |
| In his Budget speech, Mr Darling said Labour had been "right about the recovery" and urged voters not to put it at risk by deserting the party. | |
| But Conservative leader David Cameron accused him of stealing Tory policies on stamp duty and an extra tax on strong cider. | But Conservative leader David Cameron accused him of stealing Tory policies on stamp duty and an extra tax on strong cider. |
| "Like every Labour government before them they've run out of money and they're leaving it to the next Conservative government to clean up the mess," Mr Cameron said. | "Like every Labour government before them they've run out of money and they're leaving it to the next Conservative government to clean up the mess," Mr Cameron said. |
| BUDGET 2010: AT-A-GLANCE Deficit not as big as predicted First time buyers stamp duty cut Planned petrol duty rise staggered 20,000 university places pledged Force state banks to lend moreCrackdown on tax evasionTax hike on strong cider Growth package to boost jobs Bank accounts for all citizensGreen investment fund The Full Story: Budget 2010 At-a-glance: The key points | BUDGET 2010: AT-A-GLANCE Deficit not as big as predicted First time buyers stamp duty cut Planned petrol duty rise staggered 20,000 university places pledged Force state banks to lend moreCrackdown on tax evasionTax hike on strong cider Growth package to boost jobs Bank accounts for all citizensGreen investment fund The Full Story: Budget 2010 At-a-glance: The key points |
| The Conservatives also claimed 30 million workers were facing an effective tax rise due to the freeze on personal allowances. | The Conservatives also claimed 30 million workers were facing an effective tax rise due to the freeze on personal allowances. |
| He said the details, contained in official documents, were a new "stealth tax" and Mr Darling had "said nothing about the biggest tax rise in the Budget" in his speech. | He said the details, contained in official documents, were a new "stealth tax" and Mr Darling had "said nothing about the biggest tax rise in the Budget" in his speech. |
| But Mr Darling said that tax thresholds are linked to the inflation rate the previous September. At the time inflation was negative so "in theory these allowances should have been cut... now that would have been daft... so I froze them." | But Mr Darling said that tax thresholds are linked to the inflation rate the previous September. At the time inflation was negative so "in theory these allowances should have been cut... now that would have been daft... so I froze them." |
| Setting out the battle lines for the forthcoming election campaign, Mr Darling said: "The choice before the country now is whether to support those whose policies will suffocate our recovery and put our future at risk. | Setting out the battle lines for the forthcoming election campaign, Mr Darling said: "The choice before the country now is whether to support those whose policies will suffocate our recovery and put our future at risk. |
| "Or support a government which has been right about the recession, right about the recovery, and is right about supporting the people and business of this country to build a prosperous future." | "Or support a government which has been right about the recession, right about the recovery, and is right about supporting the people and business of this country to build a prosperous future." |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said both the chancellor and David Cameron were "in denial" about the scale of spending cuts needed and dismissed the budget as "a political dodge not an economic plan". | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said both the chancellor and David Cameron were "in denial" about the scale of spending cuts needed and dismissed the budget as "a political dodge not an economic plan". |
| "This isn't the preface to a new government but a footnote to 13 years of failure," he said. | "This isn't the preface to a new government but a footnote to 13 years of failure," he said. |
| By the standards of other pre-election budgets, it was timid in the extreme Alex Brummer, Daily Mail City editor Papers split on Budget analysis Department cuts outlined | By the standards of other pre-election budgets, it was timid in the extreme Alex Brummer, Daily Mail City editor Papers split on Budget analysis Department cuts outlined |
| On Wednesday Mr Darling said stamp duty on homes sales below £250,000 would be suspended for two years for first time buyers, paid for by an increase to 5% of the rate on £1m homes. | On Wednesday Mr Darling said stamp duty on homes sales below £250,000 would be suspended for two years for first time buyers, paid for by an increase to 5% of the rate on £1m homes. |
| He said the government would borrow £167bn this year - less than the £178bn forecast in the pre-Budget report, owing to stronger-than-expected tax receipts. | He said the government would borrow £167bn this year - less than the £178bn forecast in the pre-Budget report, owing to stronger-than-expected tax receipts. |
| The chancellor also unveiled a series of other measures aimed at clawing back tax from high earners - likely to go down well with Labour MPs fighting an election next month. | The chancellor also unveiled a series of other measures aimed at clawing back tax from high earners - likely to go down well with Labour MPs fighting an election next month. |
| The inheritance tax threshold would be frozen for another four years, to help pay for the costs of care for older people. | The inheritance tax threshold would be frozen for another four years, to help pay for the costs of care for older people. |
| Mr Darling also announced the end of some personal tax allowances on those earning more than £150,000, a cut in tax relief on pensions for those with incomes above £130,000 a year and a crackdown on tax evasion through new agreements with the governments of Dominica, Grenada and Belize - home of Tory "non dom" donor Lord Ashcroft. | Mr Darling also announced the end of some personal tax allowances on those earning more than £150,000, a cut in tax relief on pensions for those with incomes above £130,000 a year and a crackdown on tax evasion through new agreements with the governments of Dominica, Grenada and Belize - home of Tory "non dom" donor Lord Ashcroft. |
| EXPERTS' ANALYSIS "The chancellor has moved the goalposts" Business editor Robert Peston "The theme's clear - help for the many versus help for the few" Political editor Nick Robinson "The stamp duty cut is even cheaper than I thought" Economics editor Stephanie Flanders Full Budget 2010 coverage | EXPERTS' ANALYSIS "The chancellor has moved the goalposts" Business editor Robert Peston "The theme's clear - help for the many versus help for the few" Political editor Nick Robinson "The stamp duty cut is even cheaper than I thought" Economics editor Stephanie Flanders Full Budget 2010 coverage |
| Next month's scheduled increase in fuel duties will be staggered and he confirmed planned rises in duty on beer, wine and spirits and tobacco. | Next month's scheduled increase in fuel duties will be staggered and he confirmed planned rises in duty on beer, wine and spirits and tobacco. |
| The most expensive measure in the Budget was a £600m pledge to increase the winter fuel allowance for pensioners for another year. | The most expensive measure in the Budget was a £600m pledge to increase the winter fuel allowance for pensioners for another year. |
| In a series of measures aimed at boosting business, Mr Darling said business rates will be cut for one year from October and state-owned banks would be forced to lend more. | In a series of measures aimed at boosting business, Mr Darling said business rates will be cut for one year from October and state-owned banks would be forced to lend more. |
| He extended a six month job or training guarantee for under 24-year-olds to March 2012, and announced a one-off £270m fund to create 20,000 extra university places. | He extended a six month job or training guarantee for under 24-year-olds to March 2012, and announced a one-off £270m fund to create 20,000 extra university places. |
| The Budget received a mixed response in the papers with the Daily Telegraph's front page depicting the chancellor as a cartoon burglar carrying a swag bag underneath the headline "Tax raid on middle class". It says there was little sign of giveaways aimed at attracting voters. | The Budget received a mixed response in the papers with the Daily Telegraph's front page depicting the chancellor as a cartoon burglar carrying a swag bag underneath the headline "Tax raid on middle class". It says there was little sign of giveaways aimed at attracting voters. |
| The Sun opts for the headline "Darling just screwed more people than JT, Ashley, Mark Owen and Tiger Woods" while the Times says the chancellor "combined a raid on the rich with the theft of Conservative ideas in a highly political Budget". | The Sun opts for the headline "Darling just screwed more people than JT, Ashley, Mark Owen and Tiger Woods" while the Times says the chancellor "combined a raid on the rich with the theft of Conservative ideas in a highly political Budget". |
| COMPLETE BUDGET DOCUMENTS Budget 2010 - Securing the recovery [3.55MB] Hosted by Direct.gov.uk | COMPLETE BUDGET DOCUMENTS Budget 2010 - Securing the recovery [3.55MB] Hosted by Direct.gov.uk |
| Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader | Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader |
| Download the reader here | Download the reader here |
| Under the headline "Keep calm and carry on", the Guardian says Mr Darling "spurned the chance" of a pre-election giveaway by putting his "personal stamp" on a package designed to cement recovery. The Daily Mirror says the "election-boosting" speech had the Tories on the run. Its headline is "Safe pair of eyebrows". | Under the headline "Keep calm and carry on", the Guardian says Mr Darling "spurned the chance" of a pre-election giveaway by putting his "personal stamp" on a package designed to cement recovery. The Daily Mirror says the "election-boosting" speech had the Tories on the run. Its headline is "Safe pair of eyebrows". |
| And in the Daily Mail, city editor Alex Brummer writes: "By the standards of other pre-election budgets, it was timid in the extreme." | And in the Daily Mail, city editor Alex Brummer writes: "By the standards of other pre-election budgets, it was timid in the extreme." |
| Some of the more controversial measures in the Budget may not make it into law before polling day, which could be just six weeks away. | Some of the more controversial measures in the Budget may not make it into law before polling day, which could be just six weeks away. |
| But the planned cut in stamp duty would probably stay in place whoever wins the election, as it is similar to existing Tory policy. | But the planned cut in stamp duty would probably stay in place whoever wins the election, as it is similar to existing Tory policy. |
| If the Conservatives win the election they will produce an "emergency Budget" within 50 days of taking office which could reverse many of Mr Darling's measures. | If the Conservatives win the election they will produce an "emergency Budget" within 50 days of taking office which could reverse many of Mr Darling's measures. |