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| Budget 2015: George Osborne says Britain 'walking tall again' | Budget 2015: George Osborne says Britain 'walking tall again' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| George Osborne has told MPs "Britain is walking tall again" after five years of coalition government. | George Osborne has told MPs "Britain is walking tall again" after five years of coalition government. |
| He said a squeeze on public spending would end earlier than planned because of stronger growth and low inflation in his final Budget before the election. | |
| He cut 1p from duty on a pint of beer, froze wine duty, cut 2% from cider and scotch whisky - and froze fuel duty. | |
| The Office for Budget Responsibility says the UK economy is growing slightly faster than thought. | The Office for Budget Responsibility says the UK economy is growing slightly faster than thought. |
| It revised its growth forecast for 2015 upwards from 2.4% to 2.5% and for 2016 from 2.2% to 2.3%, said Mr Osborne. | It revised its growth forecast for 2015 upwards from 2.4% to 2.5% and for 2016 from 2.2% to 2.3%, said Mr Osborne. |
| Setting out his plans in the Commons, Mr Osborne said: "We took difficult decisions in the teeth of opposition and it worked. Britain is walking tall again. | Setting out his plans in the Commons, Mr Osborne said: "We took difficult decisions in the teeth of opposition and it worked. Britain is walking tall again. |
| "Five years ago, our economy had suffered a collapse greater than almost any country. | "Five years ago, our economy had suffered a collapse greater than almost any country. |
| "Today, I can confirm: in the last year we have grown faster than any other major advanced economy in the world." | "Today, I can confirm: in the last year we have grown faster than any other major advanced economy in the world." |
| Mr Osborne's sixth Budget statement comes against a backdrop of a strengthening economic recovery, a fresh fall | |
| Mr Osborne told the Commons that the government had met its 2010 target to end this Parliament with Britain's national debt falling as a share of GDP. | Mr Osborne told the Commons that the government had met its 2010 target to end this Parliament with Britain's national debt falling as a share of GDP. |
| He said he would use a boost in the public finances caused by lower inflation and welfare payments to pay off some of the national debt and end the squeeze on public spending a year earlier than planned. | He said he would use a boost in the public finances caused by lower inflation and welfare payments to pay off some of the national debt and end the squeeze on public spending a year earlier than planned. |
| This means that in 2019/20 spending will grow in line with the growth of the economy - bringing state spending as a share of national income to the same level as in 2000. | This means that in 2019/20 spending will grow in line with the growth of the economy - bringing state spending as a share of national income to the same level as in 2000. |
| "The hard work and sacrifice of the British people has paid off," said Mr Osborne. | "The hard work and sacrifice of the British people has paid off," said Mr Osborne. |
| "The original debt target I set out in my first Budget has been met. We will end this Parliament with Britain's national debt share falling. | "The original debt target I set out in my first Budget has been met. We will end this Parliament with Britain's national debt share falling. |
| "The sun is starting to shine - and we are fixing the roof." | "The sun is starting to shine - and we are fixing the roof." |
| The Budget on the BBC | The Budget on the BBC |
| The Budget is Mr Osborne's last set-piece chance to woo floating voters ahead of 7 May's general election - opinion polls have the Conservatives neck-and-neck with the official opposition, Labour. | |
| He insisted that deficit reduction remained his top priority but also unveiled measures aimed to increase the amount people can earn before paying tax to £10,800 next year and an above inflation rise to £43,300 by 2017 for the amount people can earn before having to pay the 40p tax rate. | |
| He also announced plans to scrap annual tax returns and replace them with "digital tax accounts", allowing people to manage their affairs using smartphones or computers. | |
| Other measures include: | |
| Some of the plans in Mr Osborne's statement are likely to depend on a Conservative victory on 7 May - whoever wins the election is likely to set out another Budget later this year. | Some of the plans in Mr Osborne's statement are likely to depend on a Conservative victory on 7 May - whoever wins the election is likely to set out another Budget later this year. |
| Labour's Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has accused the Conservatives of planning "extreme" spending cuts and promised to "balance the books in a fair way by reversing the Tories' tax cut for millionaires". | Labour's Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has accused the Conservatives of planning "extreme" spending cuts and promised to "balance the books in a fair way by reversing the Tories' tax cut for millionaires". |
| Mr Balls has pledged to raise the minimum wage, reintroduce a 10p tax rate for low earners and cut business rates for small firms, if Labour wins office in May. | Mr Balls has pledged to raise the minimum wage, reintroduce a 10p tax rate for low earners and cut business rates for small firms, if Labour wins office in May. |
| Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Budget was a "joint effort" between his party and the Conservatives, which would include no "spectacular giveaways". | Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Budget was a "joint effort" between his party and the Conservatives, which would include no "spectacular giveaways". |
| But the Lib Dems will unveil their own tax and spending plans for the next five years on Thursday, which are likely to feature greater tax rises than planned by the chancellor. | But the Lib Dems will unveil their own tax and spending plans for the next five years on Thursday, which are likely to feature greater tax rises than planned by the chancellor. |
| Mr Osborne's sixth Budget statement comes against a backdrop of a strengthening economic recovery, a fresh fall in unemployment and a rosier fiscal picture expected as a result of falling oil prices dragging down inflation. | Mr Osborne's sixth Budget statement comes against a backdrop of a strengthening economic recovery, a fresh fall in unemployment and a rosier fiscal picture expected as a result of falling oil prices dragging down inflation. |
| He said: "The critical choice facing the country now is this: do we return to the chaos of the past? Or do we say to the British people, let's work through the plan that is delivering for you? | |
| "Today we make that critical choice: we choose the future. We have a plan that is working - and this is a Budget that works for you." | "Today we make that critical choice: we choose the future. We have a plan that is working - and this is a Budget that works for you." |
| What is your reaction to the Budget statement? You can share your views and send us your questions by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | What is your reaction to the Budget statement? You can share your views and send us your questions by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
| Have your say | Have your say |