Transcripts For GBN Martin 20240704

It. And he says the tories have lost control of the economy. Welcome to the show. Well, weve just had the Spring Budget. I just had the Spring Budget. I want to hear from you. Do you feel this was the moment we expected a rabbit to be pulled out of the headlights instead . Did it feel to you like the chancellor of the exchequer, jeremy hunt, was a rabbit in the headlights . Were the big headlights . Where were the big fireworks . Where was the big fireworks . Where was the big bang . Titanic tax cuts bang . We wanted titanic tax cuts instead. Does it feel like to you , like theyre rearranging you, like theyre rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic . The deck chairs on the titanic . Throughout the course of the show, ill speak to experts across housing, hospitality, manufacturing, Small Businesses , manufacturing, Small Businesses, and of course, political reaction from the conservatives, the labour party and the liberal democrats. And the most important people of you , the important people of you, the Great British public. Please send me your stories gbviews gbnews. Com. Do you think youll notice any difference to this . Will it change the way you vote at the forthcoming general elections . It was do or die time for the conservative party today. Whats your take . Please get in touch. All the usual ways. An action packed show and of course, Liam Halligan will cut through the grease as only he knows explain he knows how to explain succinctly the point succinctly and to the point exactly what this means for you. Thats all coming. But first, its thats all coming. But first, wsfime thats all coming. But first, its time for your latest news headunes its time for your latest News Headlines with tatiana sanchez. Martin, thank you very much. First, a recap on the news from todays budget. There were cheers in the commons this afternoon as the chancellor announced his budget with a mixed spending and mixed bag of spending and reforms he says will let people keep much of their money as keep as much of their money as possible. Jeremy hunt said the governments performance governments fiscal performance means the economy is expected to grow this year by 0. 8, then by 1. 9 in 2025, promising britain had turned a corner on inflation. He highlighted figures from the office for budget responsibility, which show inflation falling below the bank of englands target of 2 within a few months. He was quiet on forecasts beyond that point, which suggests inflation could rise again towards the end of the year. But he said the government will cut National Insurance from april the 6th. Employee National Insurance will be cut by another £0. 02 from 10 to 8, and self employed National Insurance will be cut from 8 to 6. It means an additional £450 a year for the average employee, or £350 for someone self employed. When someone self employed. When combined with the autumn reductions, it means 27 million employees will get an average tax cut of £900 a year. Tax cut of £900 a year. A new isa scheme has also been announced, aiming to encourage more investment in britain, with an additional £5,000 limit. Thats in addition to a £0. 05 cut to fuel duty locked in for another 12 months. It systems in the nhs will be upgraded for businesses as a change to the vat registration threshold, up from 85,000 to £90,000. And in a move to boost the british pub, the chancellor also extended the freeze on alcohol duty. Ive decided to extend the alcohol duty freeze until february 2025. This benefits 38,000 pubs across the uk and on top of the £13,000 saving, a typical pub will get from the 7,575 Business Rates discount i announced in the autumn. We announced in the autumn. We value our Hospitality Industry and are backing the Great British pub. British pub. Well, funding some of the governments spending will be a new duty on vaping, while taxes on tobacco will go up. Theres also an increase to duties on non economic flights, while Capital Gains tax goes from 28 to 24. Expected to boost revenue by encouraging more transactions. The windfall tax on oil and gas profits will continue until 2029, raising around £1. 5 billion. But labour leader sir keir starmer says britains credit card is maxed out. Last desperate act of a party that has failed britain in recession. Has failed britain in recession. The National Credit card maxed out and despite the measures today, the highest tax burden for 70 years, the First Parliament since records began to see Living Standards fall. Confirmed by this budget today. Thatis confirmed by this budget today. That is their record. It is still their record. Give with one hand and take even more with the other staying in westminster. The labour leader says more needs to be done to prevent further crimes being committed by serving police officers. Sir keir starmer called for mandatory standards for police vetting following an inquiry into the murder of sarah everard, which found her killer should never have been given a job as a police officer. Rishi sunak said ministers acted quickly to strengthen police procedures. Procedures. It is vital for Public Confidence that those that are not fit to wear the badge are rooted out of the police and not able to join in the first place. Thats why the college of policing has updated its existing statutory code on vetting. And that happened quickly and in addition, the policing inspectorate carried out a rapid inspection of all forces progress against the previous findings and in addition to that, an entire an entire check against the National Police database was carried out for all serving officers and staff to the United States, where nikki haley is dropping out of the race to become the republican candidate for president. The former governor of South Carolina is speaking now after she managed to block Donald Trumps clean sweep on super tuesday, but it wasnt enough to stop the former president s momentum. A rematch with joe biden now looks increasingly likely. However. Mr trumps various legal troubles may complicate his path to the nomination. Hes facing 91 nomination. Hes facing 91 criminal charges across four cases. For the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. Com alerts. Alerts. Now, were not messing about today and were going to get stuck right into it. Jeremy hunt has delivered his last Spring Budget before the general election. Here break down election. Here to break it down is our economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan on the editor Liam Halligan with on the money. Money. This was a relatively low key , unambitious fiscal announcement. It didnt feel to me like the last roll of the dice before a general election in may. It seems to me that the tories are still going to go for an election in october, or november. Lower taxes mean higher growth, said chancellor jeremy hunt. And that means more prosperity, more money for our pubuc prosperity, more money for our public service. This is a budget for long terme growth. How are we going to get that growth going . Well, the headline pre announced. Everyone knew it was coming a to p cuts in the headune was coming a to p cuts in the headline rate of National Insurance from april to 8. When you combine that with the £0. 02 cut in National Insurance that was introduced in january from 12 to 10, the average worker in this country will be £900 a year better off. That is not to be sniffed at. Another tax giveaway is the freeze in fuel duty. Fuel duty on petrol and diesel will remain at 52. 95 per litre, just less than £0. 53 for the next 12 months. That fuel duty has been frozen since 2011, and that freeze is worth around £50 a year to the average motorists. A third giveaway alcohol duty has been frozen for an extra six months until february 2025. It helps 38,000 pubs across the uk. Our publican sector. Hospitality as a whole has been hammered in recent years and this is at least some help for them. More help for the enterprising brits trying to get the economy growing a rise in Small Business vat threshold from 85,000 to £90,000 a year, you can now turn over £90,000 in your business without paying vat. Its the without paying vat. Its the first rise in the vat threshold for seven years. Again, not too much, but worse than nothing at all. Another pro growth measure , all. Another pro growth measure, which the chancellor emphasised a new british isa. Thats an a new british isa. Thats an individual savings account. If you want to invest in stocks and shares, you get an extra £5,000 annualisa shares, you get an extra £5,000 annual isa allowance. If you invest that money in uk stocks and shares. Again, trying to get and shares. Again, trying to get the economy moving , how are we the economy moving, how are we going to pay for all this, all these giveaways . One way the these giveaways . One way the chancellor wants to pay for it is by extending the windfall tax on north sea oil and gas extraction from 2020 28 to 2029 Companies Operating in the north sea, and theyre often quite small companies, not the big oil and gas majors are paying 75 now on their profits this year. Long extension is estimated to raise £1. 5 billion. Since jeremy hunt. But it raise £1. 5 billion. Since jeremy hunt. But it wont raise that money if the taxation is so high that the oil and Gas Companies just cancel projects altogether. Theres a lot of anger about this in scotland, where oil and gas industry is centred, and indeed the leader of the scottish conservatives has already said he will vote against this aspect of his own governments budget. Its governments budget. Its another way to raise money. The chancellor hopes to clamp down on non dom tax. Foreigners who on non dom tax. Foreigners who reside in the uk and they dont pay reside in the uk and they dont pay so much tax on their foreign income that non dom tax status is going to be abolished from april 2025. The tories very much stealing labour clothes. The opposition have been saying they want to do this for some time. Its an increase also on duty on non economy airfares. That is business and first class. Two more measures aimed at the wealthy trying to raise money not to spend on more on public spending, says the tories. But to deliver tax cuts. That is the philosophical difference between them, says the chancellor. Vaping and smoking duty on vaping products is going to be introduced from 2026. Its going to be paid on imports and by manufacturers that will be offset by a one off rise in tobacco duty. Some people say that because vaping helps people stop smoking, there should be no duty on vaping products. Thats a controversy to come. And another tax raising measure. The chancellor wants to end tax perks for landlords with short terme holiday lets and other short tum rentals. This could affect everything from holiday homes to airbnb and so on. And the chancellor says hes going to implement controls to tackle local pricing out of residents. Local pricing out of residents. When short terme holiday lets are implemented in order to give local families a chance to buy and rent new homes. Theres nothing compassionate about running out of money, said jeremy hunt in a jibe at labour. Weve turned the corner on inflation and we will soon turn the corner on growth. There were other measures in this budget. There was £5 million for village hall renovations. Theres an hall renovations. Theres an extension that will be welcomed by many lower income families in the household support fund. The household support fund. Theres £4. 5 billion of money that will be raised from clamping down on tax avoidance, and thats a big risk from the chancellor. But overall, this was quite a low key budget. It doesnt feel to me like theres an election around the corner, and it may not be true that this is going to move the needle and rescue the electoral rescue the tories electoral fortunes as Liam Halligan. Excellent stuff as ever. Well come back to you , of well come back to you, of course, throughout the show, but lets some immediate lets get some immediate political the political reaction now to the budget join political budget and join our political edhon budget and join our political editor, hope. Editor, chris hope. Martin. Im on College Green here. Just trying to understand what that budget means. Im joined now by sarah olney, whos the liberal democrat finance spokesman, sarah olney. How was that for lib dems . That for lib dems . Well, to be honest, i thought that was a really desperate budget. There will be thousands, millions, probably of people up and down the country who are hoping to hear something thats really make really going to make a substantial to the substantial difference to the situations theyre facing situations that theyre facing at. They really want at the moment. They really want to about investment in to hear more about investment in the. They want to hear more the nhs. They want to hear more about what the government plan to help them with their to do to help them with their 3. 6 billion or wasnt it . 3. 6 billion or so, wasnt it . Yes. You that only yes. But do you know that only actually their planned actually reverses their planned cuts actual fact, cuts to the nhs . In actual fact, theres extra spending theres no extra spending at all. I know speaking to all. And i know from speaking to voters in own constituency, voters in my own constituency, but constituencies across but other constituencies across the country, that what people are really, really worried about right that they see right now is that they cant see their gp, they register their gp, they cant register with and we know from with a dentist, and we know from recent reports how far we recent reports how far behind we are like cancer care, are on things like cancer care, which a real worry for which is a real worry for people. To see real people. So we need to see real action from the government. And i actually terms the i think actually in terms of the economy , probably the biggest economy, probably the biggest thing tum , to thing we could do, short tum, to really get the economy moving, its a really tackle. The fact that weve currently got 2. 8 Million People on the sick list, people prevented from people are prevented from working cant working because they cant get the they need. The treatment that they need. So if the government announced if the government had announced something today that could really that issue, really tackle that issue, i think that would have provided a great deal more reassurance to people. We heard nothing of people. But we heard nothing of the it a very the sort, really. It was a very desperate budget, a very thin budget, government budget, and its a government thats ideas. Thats out of ideas. Believe in cutting if you believe in cutting taxes raising because taxes or raising them because they National Insurance they have cut National Insurance by now. By 4 in three months now. And obviously anything yes. And obviously anything that can help people manage the cost course, we cost of living, of course, we want to support that. But i mean, forget, once youve mean, dont forget, once youve factored in the planned tax rises will be taking rises that will still be taking place, its not its not a tax cut. Its really a small reduction the amount of reduction in the amount of increase that most people increase taxes that most people will doesnt will be paying. It doesnt really touch the sides. When you think the increases in think about the increases in peoples mortgages, in their rents, fuel bills , in rents, in their fuel bills, in their in their weekly shop, its going to make very little difference to most families. But inflation not out of but inflation is not out of the governments control and they are freezing fuel duty. Theyre their best cost theyre doing their best on cost of living, they . The of living, arent they . The government. An government. There was an interesting measure there about second theyre to interesting measure there about seconddown theyre to interesting measure there about seconddown on theyre to interesting measure there about seconddown on people to interesting measure there about seconddown on people being to interesting measure there about seconddown on people being able clamp down on people being able to offset some costs from renting a second home on a short tum. Lets is that good for the lib dems . Well, i mean, i think id want to look at that in a little bit more detail, but certainly second homes the impact that second homes and the impact that they in they can have in local communities, know, communities, which, you know, have a big tourist industry, certainly my certainly something that my, my colleague the colleague tim farron and the lake been Lake District has been campaigning long time. Campaigning on for a long time. So good, but i want to so sounds good, but i want to look at detail a bit more on that. This a budget for you, a pre election budget. Are we looking may the 2nd looking at may the 2nd or sometime looking at may the 2nd or sometdidnt feel an it didnt feel like an election budget, honest election budget, to be honest with mean, theres no with you. I mean, theres no doubt the chancellor is doubt that the chancellor is extremely the extremely concerned about the liberal his own liberal democrats in his own seat. The seat he plans fight seat. The seat he plans to fight at general election made at the general election made a point of rude us, point of being rude about us, which as a sign which we are. We take as a sign that anxious. But, i mean, that hes anxious. But, i mean, i think i mean, i dont think so. I mean, i think up and down the country, you see voters everywhere, they just want a general election. You see voters everywhere, they just they a general election. You see voters everywhere, they just they arezneral election. You see voters everywhere, they just they are sleil election. You see voters everywhere, they just they are sick of lection. You see voters everywhere, they just they are sick of this on. Now they are sick of this government. They want a fresh start. Just dont think start. And i just dont think that , you know, going to that, you know, theres going to be government can be much the government can really not with really do, certainly not with this to really change this budget to really change peoples this budget to really change peojust; this budget to really change peojust finally, lib dems just finally, with lib dems go coalition with labour or go into coalition with labour or the after election. The tories after an election. Well, look, weve got were fighting in fighting really, really hard in the that think we can the seats that we think we can win. Will be hoping, win. And we will be hoping, obviously, return more mps to obviously, to return more mps to the and to have the next parliament and to have an in one way or another. Well, sarah there , well, sarah olney, there, shes the partys finance spokesman. Spokesman. Thank you chris. And of course, that was sarah olney, liberal democrat mp for richmond park. Now its an all action show today. And lets get straight onto somebody else who probably like what was probably wont like what was heard and lets the heard today. And lets get the views gb news senior views now of gb news senior Political Correspondent nigel nelson. The Political Correspondent nigel nelsoiso the Political Correspondent nigel nelsoiso nigel, the Political Correspondent nigel nelsoiso nigel, we the Political Correspondent nigel nelsoiso nigel, we started the show. So nigel, we started the day with the highest taxes since world war two. Weve ended the day with the highest taxes since 1948. And if people were expecting a rabbit to be pulled out of the hat, they might feel a bit underwhelmed. In fact, sir keir starmer said today the tories lost control of the economy. Well, certainly the budget was a bit of a head scratcher. I mean, some of the things that he did announce we couldnt work out when going to come out when its all going to come in. For instance , defence in. So for instance, defence spending and theres been lot spending and theres been a lot of pushes to try and get defence, up to 2. 5. He says hell do it, but not when weve got some help for, child care providers. But we dont know what it is, the stuff on the nhs is not really terribly helpful. Its a its a paperless nhs. But then he promised to do that , but then he promised to do that, ten years ago, and it still hasnt happened. And also he hasnt happened. And also he stole, as liam said earlier, he stole, as liam said earlier, he stole labours clothes by, changing the, the non dom status for tax , which will raise about for tax, which will raise about 2. 77 billion. But instead of using that for money Public Services for the nhs, he used it for a tax cut. Whether that tax cut will work the National Insurance one remains to be seen. He didnt get much credit for the one he did last year. And of course, the key tory demographic of pensioners. They dont benefit from this at all. Of course, nigel, its easy being in the opposition because you can write checks, you dont have the cash and isnt that the point . What can labour possibly have the cash and isnt that the poithats� nat can labour possibly have the cash and isnt that the poithats any an labour possibly have the cash and isnt that the poithats any different . Possibly have the cash and isnt that the poithats any different . Ofssibly do thats any different . Of course. Byrne left that course. Liam byrne left that infamous note when labour were beaten in 2010. Im afraid there is no money, he said. Nigel. Then National Debt was a mere 960 billion. Now National Debt is 2. 6 trillion. Its almost trebled. So the big answer is trebled. So the big answer is its okay for labour to have a p0p its okay for labour to have a pop from the sidelines. But pop from the sidelines. But whats the rabbit they can pull out of a hat if they get into power. And the biscuit tin is simply empty. That is obviously well, that is obviously obviously problem. I mean, obviously the problem. I mean, liam was joking. That was liam byrne was joking. That was a note left for his successor as i often do. So, the tories then made a lot of Political Capital out of it. But yes, youre right, i mean, if you look at the predictions for debt, were going were heading towards 94 of gdp. According to the chancellor, under tony blair, that was that was below 40. So you can see there are real problems. And i think thats thats part of my criticism of this budget. It was a scorched earth policy by nicking the laboun earth policy by nicking the labour, non dom tax and paying for National Insurance cuts. It denies labour the chance of doing things that could really help people. They were talking about 2 million more nhs operations paid for by, overtime at evenings and weekends for doctors and nurses. 700,000 more dental appointments, breakfast clubs in schools, doubling of nhs scanners. Now, obviously all nhs scanners. Now, obviously all thats gone. Labour is going to have to rethink what they can actually do. But thats not what you actually call terribly responsible government. The whole base of being in government is to do the best for the country and im not sure thatis the country and im not sure that is doing the best for it. Okay. Nigel nelson, thank you very much for your insight. I guess thats the danger, isnt it . If you finally have a policy, it eventually just gets nicked. Now, later this hour, ill speak to a tory minister and a labour shadow cabinet member about their reaction to the budget. And of course, theres plenty of coverage of theres plenty of coverage of the budget our website, the budget on our website, gbnews. Com. Youve helped to gbnews. Com. And youve helped to make it the Fastest Growing National News website in the country. So you very much. Country. So thank you very much. Now budget left you now have that budget left you a bit high and dry. How about this . Its now time the this . Its now time for the Great British giveaway, the latest your latest instalment and your chance win £12,345, 12345 in chance to win £12,345, 12345 in cash and a whole host of seasonal treats. And heres how this wonga could be yours. Were springing into spring and giving you the chance to win the seasonal essentials. First, theres an incredible £12,345 in tax free cash to be won, plus a spnng tax free cash to be won, plus a spring shopping spree with £500 in shopping vouchers to spend in the store of your choice. And finally, a garden gadget package to enjoy, including a handheld games console, a portable Smart Speaker and a pizza oven for your chance to win the vouchers, the treats and £12,345 in tax free cash, text gb win to 84 902. Text cost £2 plus one Standard Network rate message or post your name and number two zero gb three, po box 8690. Derby d e19 double tee uk only entrants must be 18 or over. Lines close at 5 pm. On friday. The 29th march. Full terms and Privacy Notice at gb news. Com. Privacy notice at gb news. Com. Forward slash win please check the closing time if watching or listening on demand. Good luck. Listening on demand. Good luck. Now, being the peoples channel now, being the peoples channel, we like to get out of the westminster bubble. And to that end, my colleague bev turner has been in whitehaven all day and in a few minutes well cross live to the town where shell be speaking to locals find out what they locals to find out what they make jeremy budget. Make of jeremy hunts budget. Im daubney news, im Martin Daubney on gb news, britains channel welcome back. Its 326. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news. Now, in a few minutes, ill be joined by a tory minister. Ill be putting him on the spot overjeremy him on the spot over jeremy hunfs him on the spot over jeremy hunts budget. But lets find out what the Great British pubuc out what the Great British public thinks of the budget. Now, my colleague bev turner has been live in whitehaven all day, and lets go back there. Now, bev, theres one thing you have to do is get outside the westminster bubble, get away from the chumocracy as the Great British people. What they think, what have they been you, bev . Its still a glorious day here at whitehaven in cumbria. The Lake District is just around the corner. Ive been meeting all sorts of different local people here today. Martin, its an interesting town because it was built the mining was built on the coal Mining Industry originally, so theres some beautiful georgian buildings over 170 listed buildings here, over 170 listed buildings. We were talking to buildings here, over 170 listed buil landlorde were talking to buildings here, over 170 listed buil landlord earlier alking to buildings here, over 170 listed buil landlord earlier thatig to buildings here, over 170 listed buil landlord earlier that was one landlord earlier that was saying, thats good, but its also very difficult because it means that the houses and the properties are very expensive to upkeep. That keeps upkeep. The theme that keeps coming from today coming out from today is bureaucracy,. People bureaucracy, regulation. People wanting to work hard but finding it difficult to so because it difficult to do so because there is much red tape that there is so much red tape that they have to through. They have to get through. Obviously nothing really about that the today, i have that in the budget today, i have found those very hard found two of those very hard working here. Working people here. This is josh jordan. They are josh and jordan. They are brothers they the upper brothers and they run the upper crust, shop , fellas crust, sandwich shop, fellas cafe the town. Youve cafe in the town. Youve only been for short been running it for a short penod been running it for a short period of time, havent you, jordan . Hows going . How many weeks . Weve been doing it now for about six weeks. And, about five, six weeks. And, every improving. And were every weeks improving. And were Getting Better every day, i think. Its getting think. And its just getting its getting the name back out there as well, but yeah, its going very well. There as well, but yeah, its goiiandzry well. There as well, but yeah, its goiiand iy well. There as well, but yeah, its goiiand i dont. There as well, but yeah, its goiiand i dont know whether and i dont know whether youre the detail youre familiar with the detail of the budget from this afternoon. Its one of those things everybody things that everybody in westminster preoccupied westminster is very preoccupied by. You by. Whereas actually when you come the real world, come out in the real world, a lot of people dont really know what there are you aware what was in there are you aware of the detail, jordan, what of the detail, jordan, or what was said in the budget today, i say in bits and bobs , about the say in bits and bobs, about the non dom tax and trying to raise money that way. And its about the fuel duty , and would that the fuel duty, and would that matter that the fuel duty , i matter that the fuel duty, i imagine, for you guys is jeremy hunt did said im going to freeze fuel duty. Im going to freeze fuel duty. Im going to freeze alcohol duty as though thats some sort of gift. But its like saying i was going to punch in the face, but im punch you in the face, but im not going punch you not actually going to punch you in face. So its a little it in the face. So its a little it feels a bit feels a little bit psychologically manipulative feels a little bit psyyeah,]ically manipulative feels a little bit psyyeah,]i yeah, i feel like theyre just, last budget before an election and theyre to election and theyre trying to promise things when in promise these things when in reality theyre undoing a lot of their mistakes from the past 11 years. So and in terms of your youve had your start up costs obviously recently, but your ongoing costs as well. Whats the figure that you see on your balance that takes your Balance Sheet that takes your breath week . Balance sheet that takes your bre shopping week . Balance sheet that takes your bre shopping , week . Balance sheet that takes your bre shopping , shopping Balance Sheet that takes your bre shopping , shopping for shopping, shopping for ingredients, shopping. Yeah, thats probably the biggest , yeah, thats probably the biggest, biggest balance that we have, but i dont know. Its not really in my control that ehhen yet , ehhen yet, i ehhen yet , i dont know. But we do yet, i dont know. But we do shop around a lot, try and get the best deals that we can, but someones got to bring them pnces someones got to bring them prices down. But. And can i ask you why now, josh . Why you decided to start a business now when it feels like were in a recession, theres quite a bit of economic uncertainty, it just the opportunity arose. Rather opportunity arose. And rather than for very than working jobs for very little, why not try and work for ourselves, try and make something a bit better for ourselves . Because you work, work so hard in your regular 9 to 5 jobs for very little. Really. Jeremy hunt started his budget speech by saying hes giving £1 million for memorial to muslims who died in the war. Does that feel like the kind of thing that you were looking for . Well you could have spent the money better things. Money on better things. Think , but its still i think, but its still a nice gesture, kind of, i guess, for other muslims as well and in the nhs, he said. Nhs, a lot of money on the nhs, a lot of money going into the nhs, billions, but system to but towards a tech system to improve the data systems as opposed nurses , doctors, infrastructure. Yeah, i mean you can improve the data all you like, but if there isnt the staff to run the fundamental pieces of the nhs, then doesnt matter how good your tech is really, how have your tech is really, how have you found it getting workers . Because we hear a lot that people cant find workers as a labour shortage. Well, weve already had two workers there already. The backbone of the business, and it was two ladies and an m s great ladies and but me and him were like 2 or 3 people anyways. So were not really struggling for staff at the minute because we can pick up the workload anyways. Right its not anyways. And right now its not mega busy, but in the future we will have to get more workers. But i think weve had a few calls in. Lets see if people wanted jobs that we cant take on at the minute, because its not that busy, but i think people would want to work in our shop because it is nice place shop because it is a nice place to as well. And its beautiful. And theyve been up since 5 00 this morning, so 5 00 this morning, martin, so well a pint well forgive them having a pint at time in the afternoon. At this time in the afternoon. Hard men. Thanks, hard working men. Thanks, fellas, josh and jordan, brothers well. And i think brothers as well. And i think its so interesting. Martin, when you come you talk to when you come and you talk to people out on the street, real people out on the street, real people who arent bothered whether theres going to be a tax on Business Class travel or whether the non dom status has been taken away from only a few few people, the other thing ive learned from whitehaven is a lot of people up here love gb news, so theyre clearly a very intelligent crowd. Right . So its good to see the lads doing their bit for alcohol duty. Beth mead buy them alcohol duty. Beth mead buy them a me. Ill buy one a pint from me. Ill buy you one back next youre in london. Back next time youre in london. Well youre doing gods back next time youre in london. Well up youre doing gods back next time youre in london. Well up there. re doing gods back next time youre in london. Well up there. Beautifulgods back next time youre in london. Well up there. Beautiful stuff. Work up there. Beautiful stuff. Thank you much. Of thank you very much. And of course, bev the gb course, bev isnt the only gb news presenter in news presenter whos in whitehaven after i knock whitehaven today. After i knock off 6 00 this evening, dewbs off at 6 00 this evening, dewbs co live from the town co will come live from the town at p. M. Thats followed at 6 pm. And thats followed straight 7 00 by farage. Straight away at 7 00 by farage. Yes, nigel farage will also be broadcasting live from whitehaven in front of a Live Audience. You dont want to miss them. Theyre always superb when theyre on the road. Theres theyre on the road. Theres lots more still to come between now and 4 00, and ill speak to senior mps from the tories and labour to get their take on todays budget. But first, its time for your latest news headunes time for your latest News Headlines with tatiana sanchez. Martin, thank you very much. Your top stories from the gb newsroom. There were cheers in the commons this afternoon as the commons this afternoon as the chancellor announced his budget with a mixed bag of spending reforms he says spending and reforms he says will keep as much will let people keep as much of their own possible. Their own money as possible. Jeremy hunt said the governments fiscal performance means expected to means the economy is expected to grow this year by 0. 8, then by 1. 9 in 2025. But he said the government will cut National Insurance from april the 6th. Employee, National Insurance will be cut by another toopi from 10 to 8, and self employed National Insurance will be cut from 8 to 6. It means an additional £450 a year for the average employee, or £350 for someone self employed. When combined with the autumn reductions, it means 27 million employees will get an average tax cut of £900 a year. A new isa schemes also been announced , aiming to encourage announced, aiming to encourage more investment in britain, with an additional £5,000 limit. Thats in addition to a £0. 05 cut to fuel duty, locked in for another 12 months. It systems in the nhs will be upgraded for businesses. Theres a change to the vat registration threshold, up from 85,000 to £90,000. And in a move to boost the british pub , the chancellor also pub, the chancellor also extended the freeze on alcohol duty. Duty. Ive decided to extend the alcohol duty freeze until february 2025. This benefits 38,000 pubs across the uk and on top of the £13,000 saving, a typical pub will get from the 7,575 Business Rates discount. I announced in the autumn. We value our Hospitality Industry and our backing. The Great British pub. British pub. Funding some of the governments spending will be a new duty on vaping, while taxes on tobacco will go up. Theres also an increase to duties on non economy flights while Capital Gains tax goes from 28 to 24, expected to boost revenue by encouraging more transactions. The windfall tax on oil and gas profits will continue until 2029, raising around £1. 5 billion. But labour leader sir keir starmer says britains credit card is maxed out. Out. Last desperate act of a party that has failed britain in recession. The National Credit card maxed out and despite the measures today, the highest tax burden for 70 years the First Parliament since records began to see Living Standards fall, confirmed by this budget today thatis confirmed by this budget today that is their record. It is still their record. Give with still their record. Give with one hand and take even more with the other. The other. For the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen. Or you can go to gb news. Com alerts. Com alerts. For stunning gold and silver coins, youll always value rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news Financial Report. The gb news Financial Report. Heres a quick snapshot of todays markets. The pound will buy you 1. 2722 and ,1. 1690. The price of gold is £1,683. 08 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7686 points. Rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news Financial Report. Report. Thank you, tatiana, for that. Now, i asked you at the top of the show for your take on the spnng the show for your take on the Spring Budget, and its fair to say you havent held back hundreds and hundreds of emails. And if i had to take a temperature test, i would say around about 85 to 90 of you are not particularly impressed by what youve heard today. Lets go through a few of them now, simon says, there you go. Thats a great start. Simon says this as a lifelong tory voter, and im 73, i will this time not be voting conservative again. Bnan be voting conservative again. Brian says this. This was the worst budget speech ive ever seen. I feel like throwing my phone at the screen and i am a conservative party member, sue says this. Lots of people writing in about pensions sue says this. Our pensions are rising and thats good. But my rent has gone up nearly £8 a week. Plus my council tax has risen. Therefore it wiped out risen. Therefore it wiped out all the so called gains. Today, i think everything has been swallowed up. Whats a load of nonsense . There we go. And there have hundreds and hundreds have been hundreds and hundreds more have more more. Well have plenty more throughout show. Get throughout the show. Please get in vaiews gbnews. Com. In touch. Vaiews gbnews. Com. But next joined by but next im joined by bim afolami , whos the economic afolami, whos the economic secretary to the treasury. Welcome to the show, bim. So welcome to the show, bim. So bim, for some reaction , jeremy bim, for some reaction, jeremy hunt said this is a sensible budget for long terme growth. Keir starmer no surprises, said the chancellor is smiling as the ship goes down. As you may have heard a moment ago, bim, the gb news viewers not massively impressed. Can you convince them why this is a great budget for the British Public . Well, what i want your viewers and everybody in the country to know. Is that really the most important thing weve done here is to put more money in their pockets. Now, i dont expect them just to accept me telling them that they are going to notice that in their pay going to notice that in their pay let me give you an pay packets. Let me give you an example. As a result of what weve done in the autumn statement and today, somebody on average watching your average earnings watching your programme working full time will be £1,800. Forgive me, average family on average earnings £1,800. Better off an average individual about £900. Better off if they have kids. For off if they have kids. For example, if youve got a family both working full time, one on, say, £60,000, one on average earnings on £35,000. With what weve done with child benefit, they are going to be £4,600 better off over a year. Now that isnt going to happen literally at this moment. But in the weeks and months to come, with inflation continuing to come down, with Mortgage Rates continuing to come down and with those incomes really coming into their pay packets, i hope that your viewers will will see the actions of what weve done today and that they will benefit directly from that. Has it be said bim, a lot of people are talking about the dreaded fiscal drag. So on the one hand, they appreciate, fuel duty has been frozen. 2 increase on National Insurance , alcohol, child care, insurance, alcohol, child care, the rest of it. But at the same time, because the tax brackets are remaining static and wages are remaining static and wages are going up, a lot of them are being dragged into higher tax rates. And so the good lord rates. And so the good lord giveth and the good lord taketh away. Theyre feeling nets poorer. Well, as i said, thats poorer. Well, as i said, thats why we very aggressively tried to eliminate this double tax on work National Insurance for working people. We have weve begun and continued the process of bringing their tax rates down. And those take home pay numbers. The ones that i gave you, their real numbers, they are going to feel better off than they otherwise would have done without those National Insurance cuts. I insurance cuts. Now, i completely that completely understand that people over the people will feel well over the last few years that taxes have gone up for them, thats gone up for them, and thats true. And the reason for that was as a result of the pandemic, the government spent over £400 billion supporting british people and british families. But people and british families. But now is the time. Over the last six months or so, cutting National Insurance in the autumn statement, cutting it again, now getting rid of that double tax on work. This is our path to lower taxes. And were doing this all at the same time as maintaining high levels of pubuc maintaining high levels of Public Services. And increasing the spending in Public Services, and also making sure that were improving the productivity so that actually it gets to the frontline as effectively as possible. Were doing all of that in a sensible, balanced way, but its not going to happen immediately. It is going to happen with time. Theyve to happen with time. But theyve got the plan. The got to stick with the plan. The economys round the economys turning round the corner will deliver for corner and we will deliver for them and now looks like them. And bim now it looks like them. And bim now it looks like the money is forget the sensible money is forget about there being an election in may to later in the year, may pushed to later in the year, jeremy hunt flashed his garter a bit today. He jeremy hunt flashed his garter a bit today. He said there are two types of tax cuts ne and income tax. But he didnt give us an income tax cut today. Many income tax cut today. Many people wanted that. My question to you is this is there a big firework left in the box . Can we expect Something Else ahead of a general election . A tantalising tax cut . Or is todays budget, is that it . Tax cut . Or is todays budget, is that it . What tax cut . Or is todays budget, is that it . What i tax cut . Or is todays budget, is that it . What i would say is it is we are taking one budget at a time, so were focussed on making sure that we explain this to the british people. Were talking about this today. Im not going to speculate on what might happen in the future. Okay . Bim afolami superb. Thank you very much for joining us okay . Bim afolami superb. Thank you very much forjoining us and you very much for joining us and explaining that to us. Thank youre secretary to youre the economic secretary to the you very the treasury. Thank you very much. Now we convinced by what much. Now we convinced by what he said, me know. Gb views he said, let me know. Gb views at gb news im about to speak to at gb news im about to speak to a shadow minister to get labours on that budget as labours take on that budget as well. Martin daubney well. Im Martin Daubney on gb news, news welcome back. Its 346. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news now. 4 00, our economics and business edhon our economics and Business Editor, Liam Halligan will break down the budget and tell you exactly what it means for you. No guff. Straight to the point. No guff. Straight to the point. But before that, lets get more labour reaction to that budget. And im joined now by darren jones whos the shadow chief secretary to the treasury. Thank you for joining secretary to the treasury. Thank you forjoining us, darren. And thanks for sparing your time, how annoyed are the labour party that the tories nicked your non dom policy . Not annoyed at all, really. I mean, we kind of anticipated it, but also, its a humiliating u turn for the conservatives, u turn for the conservatives, who u turn for the conservatives, who until yesterday were saying that labours plans were either non existent or ineffective. And now today , theyve adopted them. Now today, theyve adopted them. I mean, the fact that the conservative party is so bereft ofideas conservative party is so bereft of ideas that it had to look to us to come up with the proposals, its quite something. But matter is, but the fact of the matter is, keir starmer in the house keir starmer said in the house of today is that if the of commons today is that if the conservatives had adopted our policy non dom tax policy on the non dom tax loophole we first loophole years ago when we first raised could had raised it, they could have had billions extra billions of pounds of extra money going schools and money going into schools and hospitals that we hospitals in the way that we intended spend that money, intended to spend that money, but to it but theyve chosen to leave it right until last minute as a right until the last minute as a pre election and have pre election gimmick and have missed. Missed the opportunity. Darren, question is darren, the big question is looking all recall looking ahead. We all recall that note that liam byrne left in 2010. Im afraid there is no money. And at that point the National Debt was a mere 960 billion at present, darren, the National Debt is more like 2. 7 trillion, almost treble what it was back then. So looking ahead to the future, its okay to criticise what the conservatives have done today. But labour, how on earth can you afford to fund big, bold projects of your own . When the biscuit tins completely empty . Well look, youre right empty . Well look, youre right to highlight that the state of the economy after 14 years of the economy after 14 years of the conservatives is the worst, is the worst its been since the second world war. Party wins the election if my party wins the election this year, which of course we hope economic hope to, our economic inheritance the worst inheritance will be the worst any inherited since any party has inherited since wartime , that means that its wartime, that means that its going to be hard. There will be difficult decisions , difficult difficult decisions, difficult trade will time trade offs. It will take time to turn but judge us on our turn around. But judge us on our plans and our proposals for the country compare that to the country and compare that to the 14 of failure from the 14 years of failure from the conservatives chaos and conservatives and the chaos and instability that they have exhibited us to this instability that they have exhibimore us to this instability that they have exhibimore quicklyrs to this instability that they have exhibimore quickly into this instability that they have exhibimore quickly in recent place more quickly in recent years. I think why people years. I think thats why people across are looking across the country are looking at politics and saying at their politics and saying its change, but then its time for change, but then theres little joke from jeremy hunt referring to the comments made by Peter Mandelson sir made by Peter Mandelson that sir keir to lose a few keir starmer needs to lose a few poundsin keir starmer needs to lose a few pounds in weight. And he said that the british pubuc and he said that the British Public will lose more than a few pounds if the labour party get in. Course, he was intimating pounds if the labour party get in. The course, he was intimating pounds if the labour party get in. The idea;e, he was intimating pounds if the labour party get in. The idea thate was intimating pounds if the labour party get in. The idea that the s intimating pounds if the labour party get in. The idea that the only mating pounds if the labour party get in. The idea that the only way ng to the idea that the only way the party will be able to the labour party will be able to afford or big bold projects afford or fund big bold projects is to increase taxes. Is that what you would do . Labour has traditionally been the party of high tax, although we currently have the highest taxes since 1948. Yeah , i mean thats the yeah, i mean thats the irony, right . I mean, the conservatives have increased the tax burden to the highest its been years. The scottish been in 70 years. The scottish nationalists doing the same nationalists are doing the same in scotland. Its only the labour thats calling for labour party thats calling for the tax burden to come down on working its a bit working people. And its a bit rich conservatives to rich for the conservatives to say that theyre cutting say today that theyre cutting taxes if you look the taxes when, if you look at the forecasts from the of forecasts from the office of budget the tax budget responsibility, the tax burden up each and burden is going up each and every the next five every year for the next five years. And thats because, for example, the chancellor may have announced a cut in National Insurance, but hes allowed councils to increase council tax by 5 a year each year for by up to 5 a year each year for the five years. Theyre the next five years. Theyre just moving things around, taking hand giving taking with one hand and giving it another. I think the it with another. And i think the british they know that it with another. And i think the britithey they know that it with another. And i think the britithey see they know that it with another. And i think the britithey see it. Hey know that it with another. And i think the britithey see it. And now that it with another. And i think the britithey see it. And thats hat it with another. And i think the britithey see it. And thats why and they see it. And thats why theyve enough of the conservatives. Well, if we at council well, if we look at council tax, birmingham council, well, if we look at council tax, biofiingham council, well, if we look at council tax, biofiinghanis council, well, if we look at council tax, biofiinghanis runzouncil, well, if we look at council tax, biofiinghanis runzou the which of course is run by the labour has gone into labour party, has gone into insolvency. And yesterday they imposed a 21 increase in council tax on all the residents because of their own financial incompetence. Is that a taste of what the labour party is to come . Well, 7 well, no, . Well, no, because 7 well, no, because there are councils across the country of different political leaderships, whether theyre conservative, lib dem or labour, who, after 14 years of cuts to their services, are finding themselves in difficult positions. I mean, difficult positions. I mean, thats the consequence of decisions by conservative decisions taken by conservative ministers here in westminster. But, starmer said but, as i say, keir starmer said in the house of commons today, the tories are coming after your council tax. Now and its not just in birmingham where people can to see hikes their can expect to see hikes in their council tax this year, next year and for the five and every year for the next five years. If the conservatives are elected power this yeah okay. Well thank very okay. Well thank you very much joining thats much forjoining us. Thats darren whos shadow darren jones, whos a shadow chief secretary to the treasury. Thanks joining us. Lets thanks forjoining us. Now lets get reaction now the get reaction now from the Manufacturing Industry what Manufacturing Industry to what jeremy to say. And im jeremy hunt had to say. And im joined by faheem khan, who is the at make uk. The senior economist at make uk. Thanks joining the thanks for joining us on the show. So what do you make about show. So what do you make about the budget in terms of the manufacturing . £650 Manufacturing Sector . £650 million pledged also the vat million was pledged also the vat registration threshold increase, but was it enough, thank you. And its a pleasure to be here, martin, so a few things stood out from Us Manufacturing as a sector would mostly welcome this, budget announcement, particularly this one. And also some of the announcements made in the previous one. What we have seen from the announcements made are perhaps the made today are perhaps the initial Building Blocks of a potential long time industrial strategy, which at this current moment, we still lack , but we moment, we still lack, but we are that the current are seeing that the Current Party making positive party is making steps positive steps in that direction. Two things really stood out to us today , the extension of the full today, the extension of the full expensing capital allowance scheme, or the government intends to open a consultation to expand that to leasing. We know that about 15 of manufacturers from our surveys use our leasing as a method to access plant and machinery , access plant and machinery, particularly this is all dominated by small manufacturers. So we know that that policy would potentially help, the most smallest manufacturers access the latest and newest technologies that they need to grow. And the second thing is the, recovery loan scheme, which has been extended to 2026, which will extend an olive branch to small manufacturers, but also shows the chancellors commitment, to Small Businesses to understand and recognise the strategic importance that they play strategic importance that they play in local economies. And i think whats quite interesting is that theyve renamed that scheme to the growth guarantee scheme. So we know which suggests that that the conservatives are moving away from , supporting the recovery of from, supporting the recovery of businesses from the pandemic. And its now looking forward and ahead and thinking more about growth and productivity. Growth and productivity. Okay. Looking ahead, the labour party would like to position themselves as the party of small and medium enterprises. What think about what do you think about the future labour get in . Future if labour are to get in . Think , whether its labour i think, whether its labour or the conservatives, its about what manufacturers want to see in our data shows that 99 of manufacturers want to see a long terme industrial strategy. And so actually, where we need to take this as the next step is to make that commitment, the messaging to be that messaging has to be that manufacturing will be a priority for uk industry, for the uk industry, manufacturing plays a significant role in the prosperity of the uk. They account for about 10 of our economy, which rises to about 20 if you include, all the extra work that they generate by giving putting people more money into peoples pockets and they account for about £40 of every £100 invested in r d. But really, what is missing at the moment is that that kind of the messaging that says actually ten, 15, 20 years from now, manufacturing will still be an important sector from the uk. And that is what i would say, that labour needs to do great stuff. Well, a country that doesnt make anything is doomed. Faheem khan, senior economist at khan, the senior economist at make uk. Thank you so much for your expert analysis. Great your expert analysis. Great stuff. Now before we finish this houh stuff. Now before we finish this hour, id like read out just hour, id like to read out just a emails. And its fair to a few emails. And its fair to say of pensioners have say a lot of pensioners have been getting in touch with us, feeling they feel bit out feeling they feel a bit left out by todays budget, and puts it very succinctly here saying this. Yes, they put the pension up from next month , but up from next month, but Everything Else has also gone up apart the Tax Thresholds. Apart from the Tax Thresholds. And thats that dreaded fiscal drag. Been talking about. Drag. Weve been talking about. Ive worked finances coming ive worked my finances coming in and i am worse off in and out, and i am worse off now. I already have to give up my car last year. I dont drink and probably wont be eating now either at this rate, somebody here this is linda who says this. My annual salary. This. My annual salary. Advertise at 32 k. Yet my take home pay is 20 4k due to all of the stoppages tax, ni and pension contributions. So thats one quarter of my salary taken away from me every single month. Thats fair to say. That will increase to 37 by 28 to 2029. So well have the highest Tax Threshold in a long time. Now, our economics and Business Editor , Liam Halligan will be editor, Liam Halligan will be here with all the experts. Analysis next. But first, its time for your all important Weather Forecast with Aidan Mcgivern. Mcgivern. A brighter outlook with boxt solar. Sponsors of weather on. Solar. Sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello and welcome to the gb news Weather Forecast from the met office. Some western parts of the uk are being treated to warm spells of sunshine today. Cloudier further east and relatively chilly with a breeze from the north sea that is bringing some low cloud in as this High Pressure to the east across eastern scotland and northeast england , along with northeast england, along with some drizzly rain, particularly over eastern hills, but further west weve those sunny west weve got those sunny spells, showers are spells, although showers are turning cornwall and turning up across cornwall and cloud been hanging cloud has been hanging around for parts of northern for western parts of northern ireland. Now that edges away overnight. Clear spells here clear spells for western clear spells also for western scotland, the scotland, wales and the southwest, where we do get the clear skies. Well, therell be a touch frost here and there touch of frost here and there and some freezing patches. And some freezing fog patches. But east the low cloud but further east the low cloud sticks overnight and sticks around overnight and in factit sticks around overnight and in fact it will be bringing a lot of mist and hill fog to northern parts of england and eastern scotland. We keep that going through the morning tomorrow, but then eventually it lifts and as the cloud lifts and as temperatures rise, there will be some showers developing, some sharp showers developing, particularly through some sharp showers developing, parimidlands, through some sharp showers developing, parimidlands, east through some sharp showers developing, pari midlands, east wales ough some sharp showers developing, pari midlands, east wales ,ugh the midlands, east wales, perhaps southern parts of england through the afternoon, warm in the south and southwest 12 to 14 celsius staying chilly along that north sea coast. Friday brings further cloud to eastern parts of the uk and some patchy cloud further west as well, but its a drier day on the whole , most places getting the whole, most places getting away without any rainfall on friday. Same cant be said for the weekend. Outbreaks of showery rain moved north across the country, although it stays mild the south. Mild in the south. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers , sponsors of boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on gb news. A very good afternoon to you. Its 4 pm. And welcome to the Martin Daubney show on gb news. Broadcasting live from the heart of westminster. All across the uk. Today, jeremy hunt has delivered his final Spring Budget before the general election. And he says the tories represent the only way forward a plan to grow the economy versus no plan. A plan for better Public Services versus no plan. A Plan Services versus no plan. A plan to make work pay versus no plan. To make work pay versus no plan. Growth up jobs up, taxes down. But as youd imagine, sir keir starmer was having absolutely none of it and says the tories have lost control of the tories have lost control of the economy. Any notion that they can serve the country, not themselves , party first, country themselves, party first, country second, while working people pay the price. But forget about westminster because the big question is will this budget help the tories win the next general election . Well, the next general election . Well, the people that gb news has spoken to have given their verdict, and its fair to say its not looking that good for rishi sunak. He says he hasnt got a prayer of capturing my vote, neveh prayer of capturing my vote, never, ever. But he prayer of capturing my vote, never, ever. But he said prayer of capturing my vote, never, ever. But he said never never, ever. But he said never say never. But ill say never. If you will know what britain really thinks, forget about the westminster bubble. Get out there. Get amongst the people , there. Get amongst the people, speak to the Great British pubuc speak to the Great British public and ask them what they think. Ive had hundreds and hundreds of emails from you today. I want to hear more and more. Tell me your stories. Do you feel better off . Is this too little, too late . Were you expecting a rabbit out of the hat and instead youve got a rabbit in the headlights . A titanic tax cut you wanted, but all the tories just rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic. Get in touch, gbviews gbnews. Com. But first, lets get stuck into your latest News Headlines with Polly Middlehurst. Middlehurst. Martin. Thank you and good afternoon to you. Well, as youve been hearing, it was budget day today and there were cheers in the house of commons this afternoon as the chancellor announcement chancellor made his announcement with spending and with a mixed bag of spending and reforms he says will let people keep as much of their own money as possible. Jeremy hunt said the fiscal the governments fiscal performance means the economy is expected to grow this year by 0. 8, then by 1. 9 next year, promising britain had turned the corner on inflation. He also highlighted figures from the office for budget responsibility, which show inflation is falling below the bank of englands target of 2 within a few months. He was quiet on forecasts beyond that, which suggests inflation could rise again towards the end of the year. But he said the government will cut National Insurance contributions from april the 6th. Employee, National Insurance, will be cut by another toopi from 10 to 8, and self employed National Insurance will be cut from 8 to 6. It means an additional £450 a year for the average employee, or £350 for someone self employed. And when someone self employed. And when combined with the autumn reductions, it means 27 million employees will get an average tax cut of £900 a year. Tax cut of £900 a year. So the main bullet points of the budget for today, then a new isa scheme has been announced, aiming to encourage more investment in britain, with an additional £5,000 limit also a £0. 05 cut in fuel duty locked for in another 12 months. We also heard today that it systems in the nhs will be upgraded for businesses. Theres a change to the vat registration threshold thats up from £85,000 to £90,000 a year, and in a move to boost the british pub, according to the chancellor, he extended the freeze on alcohol duty. Freeze on alcohol duty. Ive decided to extend the alcohol duty freeze until february 2025. This benefits 38,000 pubs across the uk and on top of the £13,000 saving a typical pub will get from the 7,575 Business Rates discount i announced in the autumn. We value our Hospitality Industry and our backing. The Great British pub. British pub. Other announcements today as well funding some of the governments spending will be on new duty on vaping while taxes on tobacco will go up. Theres also an increase to dufies theres also an increase to duties on non economy flights, while Capital Gains tax goes from 28 to 24, expected to boost revenue by encouraging more property transactions. The windfall tax on oil and gas profits continue until 2029. Thatll raise, he says. Around £1. 5 billion for the country. But whats been the reaction . Well, the labour leader, sir keir starmer, says britains credit card is maxed out last desperate act of a party that has failed britain in recession. The National Credit card maxed out and despite the measures today, the highest tax burden for 70 years in the First Parliament since records began to see Living Standards fall, confirmed by this budget today, thatis confirmed by this budget today, that is their record. It is that is their record. It is still their record. Give with still their record. Give with one hand and take even more with the other. Lets just bring you some breaking news. Were hearing from hampshire. Southampton actually , were southampton actually, were heanng southampton actually, were hearing a large fire has broken out at the football stadium there, saint marys stadium, just a few hours as well, before a fixture against preston was due to kick off. If youre watching on television , you can see smoke television, you can see smoke billowing saint billowing from saint marys stadium there in southampton, dark, thick black smoke as fire crews made their way to the blaze. It also, we understand, is affecting industrial units nearby and to saint marys stadium. We understand 18 fire appliances at the scene and local roads quite understandably, have had to be closed with that ferocious fire in play. Significant amounts of smoke in the area and if you are in southampton or you know anybody there, people in the area are advised to keep doors and windows closed until the fire bngade windows closed until the fire brigade southampton get windows closed until the fire brigtfire southampton get windows closed until the fire brigtfire underthampton get windows closed until the fire brigtfire under controlyn get windows closed until the fire brigtfire under control. I get windows closed until the fire brigtfire under control. Letsget that fire under control. Lets take you to the United States now, where nikki haley has officially dropped out of the race to become the republican candidate for president. The former governor of South Carolina , carolina rather, carolina, carolina rather, declined to endorse donald trump after she managed to block him from securing a clean sweep on super tuesday, as it was known yesterday, by winning the state of vermont. Of vermont. But it wasnt enough to stop the former president s momentum. The former president s momentum. The time has now come to suspend my campaign, i said. I wanted americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. Ihave voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets. And although i have no regrets. And although i have no regrets. And although i will no longer be a candidate, i will no longer be a candidate, i will no longer be a candidate, i will not stop using my voice for the things i believe in. Haley dropping out of the race for the republican nomination. For the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts. Scan that qr code on your screen right now or go to gb news. Com slash alerts. Gb news. Com slash alerts. Grace of polly. Thank you very much. Now lets get stuck into this hour. And of course, theres only one storm in town today, and thats the Spring Budget. In a few minutes, our economics and Business Editor , economics and Business Editor, Liam Halligan, will break down the figures cut through the the figures and cut through the grease say how this will grease and say how this will affect of you. But first, affect all of you. But first, lets join our political editor, christopher hope. Chris now the dust has settled on the budget, as youd expect, sir keir starmer making hay saying this the chancellor is smiling as the ship goes down, but the conservatives weve been speaking to seem very buoyant. But chris has to be said. The reaction amongst the gb news viewers is tepid, to say the least. Least. Yes, martin. Well, im here on College Green and with me is pauljohnson on College Green and with me is paul johnson from the institute for fiscal studies. Now, his verdict tomorrow will be very interesting for reporters to follow. Thats the day two of the process. Paul the budget process. Paul johnson, whats your verdict on the budget . Well, this was a pre election budget from a chancellor who actually very little space actually had very little space for. For manoeuvre. The obr didnt change their forecasts all, really. Forecasts at all, really. And back in november, mr hunt was running right up against the limits that his self imposed limits. So what did he this limits. So what did he do this time round . Well, its quite big cut in well, its quite a big cut in national to be fair. National insurance, to be fair. £10 billion cut. Put thats a £10 billion cut. Put that together with the cut we had time. Had last time. Worth well over thats worth well over £1,000. Of people in £1,000. So lots of people in work. So that quite work. So that was quite substantial 4 it in three months. Absolutely. Absolutely. 4 off in months. Worth absolutely. 4 tof in months. Worth absolutely. 4 to someone months. Worth absolutely. 4 to someone earning worth absolutely. 4 to someone earning abouti £50,000. But that was the one big thing in this package. Thing in this package. He paid for that, a bit of that by raising bits and pieces of elsewhere. Of tax elsewhere. Radical change to radical change actually to the taxation of non doms, and, you know, weve got a little bit even less fiscal headroom at the end of the period than we had back in november. Spending money hes spending money based on what the economy doing in what the economy is doing in 4 or years time. Will there be or 5 years time. Will there be a second fiscal event maybe in september pre november election . Out i certainly wouldnt rule out another fiscal event. The forecast might get a bit better. The way this very bizarre fiscal rule works is it rolls forward another year. So that might give him a little bit more for little bit more room for manoeuvre. So thinks hes manoeuvre. So if he thinks hes going more room for going to have more room for manoeuvre, might have another going to have more room for mano much bigger bit, which is the bit that employers on on the bit that employers pay on on the pay bit that employers pay on on the pay they provide to people. Pay that they provide to people. Thats national thats the big bit of National Insurance. But its very, very striking. For 50 years, all National Insurance ever did was go National Insurance ever did was 9 up National Insurance ever did was go up as income tax came down and now over the last few months, weve had this big cut for the first time, i think ever in whole history of national in the whole history of National Insurance , our viewers are insurance, our viewers are telling martin telling my colleague Martin Daubney quite daubney presenter, its quite a tepid budget. Would agree . Would you agree . Would you agree . Its a budget from well, its a budget from a chancellor, as say, who had chancellor, as i say, who had very space to change. Very little space to change. I mean, look , its worth saying mean, look, its worth saying this National Insurance change, put happened put it together. What happened in a big change. In november is a big change. I think for think the problem for the chancellor everyone expected chancellor is everyone expected it. Was well trailed it. It was it was well trailed and wasnt anything much and there wasnt anything much additional in there. And will be poring over and they will be poring over the statement when you get the obr statement when you get time ofsted, news and time to ofsted, gb news and other broadcasters in there. It does say the obr is thinks of them now being net migration up to 315,000 a year from 245,000 a year as the as the as the expected figure. Is that surprising to you, given the chancellor three times they chancellor said three times they want economy without want to grow the economy without using net migration so. Yeah. Well, the obr, of course, is just taking the higher just taking on the higher forecasts office of forecasts that the office of national provided National Statistics provided a little while ago. And of course , little while ago. And of course, what this means is more people in means probably more tax revenues, but also more pressure on Public Services. So the very tight public spending numbers, the chancellor has announced are actually even tighter than they look, because theyll have to cover more people. Cover more people. And just finally, the overview, the Economic Forecasting are we got anaemic growth, but growth this year and going yeah nothing much going forwards yeah nothing much has changed in forecast. Has changed in the forecast. Is worth saying the last it is worth saying the last two years have been pretty grim, that National Person that National Income per person has been for two years, has been falling for two years, and will probably , on and we will probably, on average, be a bit worse ofcom the next election than we were at the last election, which is pretty it has to be pretty unusual. It has to be said, a whole parliament. People still at the end still no better off at the end of that parliament. The good news is the obr thinks that inflation is down to 2 very quickly and lower than they thought before. But broadly thought before. But broadly speaking, a bit growth into speaking, a bit of growth into the run , but nothing like the medium run, but nothing like what we might hope given how poor its been recently. And what will you be saying tomorrow to journalists when you do your famous briefing the day after budget . Do your famous briefing the day aftewell, budget . Much what well, probably much of what ive well, probably much of what pve you well, probably much of what ive you and ive just said to you and hopefully chance to look ive just said to you and ho somey chance to look ive just said to you and ho some of chance to look ive just said to you and ho some of the chance to look ive just said to you and ho some of the more nce to look ive just said to you and ho some of the more detailed ok at some of the more detailed numbers to see whats really going the bonnet. Going on under the bonnet. Johnson, the well, paul johnson, now the head the cindy head of the ifs cindy yu official thank you for official studies, thank you for joining today on gb news. Joining us today on gb news. Great stuff chris. And a tantalising carrot dangled there. There could be another fiscal event, maybe in the autumn. Thats need. A big thats what we need. Chris a big firework as approach bonfire firework as we approach bonfire night. Stuff. Now, as i night. Superb stuff. Now, as i said a few minutes ago, our economics and Business Editor, liam has been looking economics and Business Editor, liewhat has been looking economics and Business Editor, liewhat jeremy has been looking economics and Business Editor, liewhat jeremy hunteen looking economics and Business Editor, liewhat jeremy hunt had. Ooking economics and Business Editor, liewhat jeremy hunt had to king economics and Business Editor, liewhat jeremy hunt had to say at what jeremy hunt had to say and itll affect all of us and how itll affect all of us with on money. With on the money. This was a relatively low key , unambitious fiscal announcement. It didnt feel to me like the last roll of the dice before a general election in may. It seems to me that the tories are still going to go for an election in october or november. Lower taxes mean november. Lower taxes mean higher growth, said chancellor jeremy hunt. And that means more prosperity, more money for our pubuc prosperity, more money for our public service. This is a budget public service. This is a budget for long terme growth. How are for long terme growth. How are we going to get that growth going . Well, the headline pre announced everyone knew it was coming, a2p cut in the headune was coming, a2p cut in the headline rate of National Insurance from april to 8. When you combine that with the £0. 02 cut in National Insurance that was introduced in january from 12 to 10, the average worker in this country will be £900 a year better off. That is not to be sniffed at. Another tax giveaway is the freeze in fuel duty. Fuel duty on petrol and diesel will remain at 52. 95 per litre, just less than £0. 53 for the next 12 months. That fuel duty has been frozen since 2011, and that freeze is worth around £50 a year to the average motor. Its a third giveaway. Alcohol duty has been frozen for an extra six months until february 2025. It helps 38,000 pubs across the uk. Our publican sector. Hospitality as a whole has been hammered in recent years, and this is at least some help for them. More help for the enterprising brits trying to get the economy growing. A rise in Small Business vat threshold from 85,000 to £90,000 a year, you can now turn over £90,000 in your business without paying vat. Its the first rise in the vat. Its the first rise in the vat threshold for seven years. Again, not too much, but worse than nothing at all. Another pro growth measure, which the chancellor emphasised a new british isa. Thats an individual savings account. If you want to invest in stocks and shares , you get an extra £5,000 shares, you get an extra £5,000 annualisa shares, you get an extra £5,000 annual isa allowance. If you invest that money in uk stocks and shares. Again, trying to get the economy moving, how are we going to pay for all this, all these giveaways . One way the chancellor wants to pay for it is by extending the windfall tax on north sea oil and gas extraction from 2020 28 to 2029, Companies Operating in the north sea. And theyre often quite small companies, not the big oil and gas majors are paying 75 now on their profits. This this now on their profits. This this year long extension is estimated to raise £1. 5 billion since jeremy hunt. But it wont raise that money if the taxation is so high that the oil and Gas Companies just cancelled projects altogether. Theres a lot of anger about this in scotland, where oil and gas industry is centred, and indeed the leader of the scottish conservatives has already said he will vote against this aspect of his own governments budget. Of his own governments budget. Another way to raise money the chancellor hopes to clamp down on non dom tax status that often yacht dwelling foreigners who reside in the uk, and they dont pay reside in the uk, and they dont pay so much tax on their foreign income that non dom tax status is going to be abolished from april 2025. The tories very much stealing labours clothes. The opposition have been saying they want to do this for some time. Its an increase also on duty on non economy airfares. That is non economy airfares. That is business and first class. Two more measures aimed at the wealthy trying to raise money not to spend on. More on public spending , says the tories, but spending, says the tories, but to deliver tax cuts. That is the to deliver tax cuts. That is the philosophical difference between them, says the chancellor. Them, says the chancellor. Vaping and smoking duty on vaping products is going to be introduced from 2026. Its going to be paid on imports and by manufacturers that will be offset by a one off rise in tobacco duty. Some people say tobacco duty. Some people say that because vaping helps people stop smoking, that because vaping helps people stop smoking , there should be no stop smoking, there should be no duty on vaping products. Thats a controversy to come. And another tax raising measure. The chancellor wants to end tax perks for landlords with short terme holiday lets and other short tum rentals. This could affect everything from holiday homes to airbnb and so on. And the chancellor says hes going to implement controls to tackle local pricing out of residents. Local pricing out of residents. This when short time holiday lets are implemented in order to give local families a chance to buy and rent new homes. Theres nothing compassionate about running out of money, said jeremy hunt in a jibe at labour. Weve turned the corner on inflation and we will soon turn the corner on growth. The corner on growth. Superb stuff now. Got loads of reaction throughout the show, but first id like to go through some of your emails. Youve been sending them their sending them in by their hundreds go straight hundreds and lets go straight to this one. Robert says the chancellor has given with one hand to working people and taken more back by leaving income Tax Thresholds frozen once again. Thresholds frozen once again. For those who think that pensioners are well off for your knowledge, uk pensioners are the worst paid in europe. Something worst paid in europe. Something else thats caught your eye was the opening sentence of todays fiscal statement was about a £1 million donation to a muslim war memorial. Its got a few of you somewhat miffed. Carol say hes this. I somewhat miffed. Carol say hes this. I always somewhat miffed. Carol say hes this. I always believe that all this. I always believe that all soldiers were equal. We have a memorial in our town with muslim names on it already. So why are we now spending £1 million for a separate Memorial Hall just for muslims . And john on the same point says this i always understood that War Memorials were in honour of all of those who fought in the war. Regardless of faith or race. It just seems like i was wrong, and ive got one quick one to squeeze in here, enid says. Im 72 and im still working. Well done darling, ive gained nothing from the National Insurance reduction. But they lumped together my pension and my part time wage, and they take tax. I my part time wage, and they take tax. I dont my part time wage, and they take tax. I dont smoke, i dont, my part time wage, and they take tax. I dont smoke, i dont, i drive about 20 miles a week. Ive voted tory since i was 21, not again. Astonishing. Keep them coming in, please. Now, a little later this hour, ill speak to a shadow cabinet minister to get labours verdict. And theres plenty of coverage, of course, on our website gbnews. Com and you helped to make it the Fastest Growing National News website in the country. So god bless you all. Now you could win the spnng all. Now you could win the spring essentials and our latest Great British giveaway theres a garden gadget package, a shopping spree and a whopping £12,345 12345 in cash. And heres all the details to get your hands on that wonga. We have a ton of top prizes to be won in our spring giveaway. Theres a massive £12,345 in tax free cash to spend however you like, along with £500 in shopping vouchers for your favourite store, a games console, a pizza oven and a portable sonos Smart Speaker. And the best news . You could be our next big winner. Just like phil, whoever wins it next is going to be as happy as i was, and theyre going to get even more money this time round. So why wouldnt you go in the for your chance to win the draw for your chance to win the draw for your chance to win the vouchers, the treats and £12,345 in tax free cash text gb win to 84 902. Text cost £2 plus one Standard Network rate message or post your name and number two gb zero three, p. O. Post your name and number two gb zero three, po. Box 8690, derby de19, double tee, uk only entrants must be 18 or over. Lines close at 5 pm. On friday the 29th of march. Full terms and Privacy Notice at gbnews. Com forward slash win. Please check the closing time if watching or listening demand. Luck , listening on demand. Good luck, good stuff. Now my colleague bev turner has been in whitehaven all day and in a few minutes well cross live to the town where shell be speaking to locals to find out what they think of the budget. The Great British people, the only people after all, that truly matter. Im Martin Daubney on gb news, britains news channel brand new sundays from 6 pm. Brand new sundays from 6 pm. The neil oliver show. The neil oliver show. Its absolutely vital that people are given the opportunity to take part in the debate. To to take part in the debate. To say the things that matter to them, to be challenged. A country is only really a shared dream. Long as enough people dream. As long as enough people have a shared idea of what it is, then that country exists. What gb news does is give voices somewhere they can be heard. The needle of a show sundays from 6 pm. On. The needle of a show sundays from 6 pm. On. Gb news. From 6 pm. On. Gb news. Welcome back. Its 425. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news. Now. Al gore duty has been frozen until next february, and that will benefit 38,000 british boozers. But is it enough for an industry thats on its knees . Well, pretty soon ill speak to an expert a little later in this houh an expert a little later in this hour. But first, heres another treat because my colleague bev turner has been live in whitehaven all all day. Bev lets go there now. Slave treats. Talking of slave treats. Talking of treats, martin, im in a shop here that predominantly sells alcohol and chocolate. I am in heaven right now and the woman to thank for that is louise mckenna, whos here . This is the rum story. Its not just mckenna, whos here . This is the rum story. Its not just a mckenna, whos here . This is the rum story. Its not just a shop, rum story. Its not just a shop, though, is it, louise . Its this big part of the history of this town. It is . Yes. So were whitehaven harbour commissioners. We in charge of. So we are, in charge of looking the historic looking after the historic harbour here in whitehaven. And as of that, weve got our as part of that, weve got our shop here and a tourist attraction, which tells the story of rum through the jeffersons family , who were jeffersons family, who were around since 1785. And yeah , big around since 1785. And yeah, big influence in the town with everything. Yeah. And the budget this afternoon its hot off the press. So local people are just taking a bit of time to digest what it means for them. What was the standout matters for you . I mean, from a personal point of view, being a mother with children , was child benefit. Children, was child benefit. Theyve raised it up, but they havent changed the fact that its a household, its almost like taxing people if they, they earn too much money. Yeah. If two people in the household, both earn under 60,000, theyre entitled to the full amount. But one person earns one, then theyve got to only get partial payment and can make a big difference, especially you know, even high earners, theyve not got as much disposable income as they used to. Yeah. And as a business here, what are you finding difficult. Was there anything in the budget today to help Small Businesses. Today to help Small Businesses. No not a lot. No i mean the frozen alcohol duty, which you know, it did, there was a lot of sort of up in that, a couple of months ago anyway. So they didnt reduce it, though. They did not reduce it. No. Theyve stuck the same, but were still looking a lot higher than we were even just a couple of especially because than we were even just a couple of predominantly cially because than we were even just a couple of predominantly cially smallse we predominantly stock small indian dependent, distillers. Its a lot of money for them, its really encouraging people , its really encouraging people, to go to the supermarkets rather than support small local businesses, yeah. We havent had much help there. Much help there. No. And what are the challenges for you as a Small Business here in a small northern town , the people here northern town, the people here seem to be very keen to support local businesses , yeah, i really local businesses, yeah, i really do think so, we still get a lot of people through. Theres still a lot of people that like to come in and touch products, its not all online. Everybody keeps going on about online, and it really small really does help Small Businesses if you can use our onune businesses if you can use our online side, but actually physically coming down and buying something from a shop is the support anybody can give. Yeah, and youve all this yeah, and youve got all this beautiful architecture in this town, but it looks like its hard to maintain because so hard work to maintain because so many listed buildings. We our attraction yes i mean we our attraction is in a really big building. It extends right back a fair few hundred metres. Well, not quite that, weve got a lot of that, but weve got a lot of roof up there and yeah, on a listed building it is. Its really hard to maintain. Its really hard to maintain. Its really hard to get the funds to keep it, you know, watertight. We get a lot of adverse weather here on the coast. So yeah, a little bit of help would be, would be much appreciated with listed buildings. Well, i mean, your produce is amazing , and well, i mean, your produce is amazing, and i am going to go home with a bag full. Dont worry. I also want to bring in graham here. So Graham Roberts is a local councillor. Of is a local councillor. One of those that community those people that community causes really need. Graham, thank you for what you do for the people of whitehaven here and youve put years into supporting this town. What do you see as the challenges and is this government helping . I think the challenges are immense, i dont see that the government are helping because the rigmarole we have to go through to draw down cash to mend a town like this, and i will use the word mend it very difficult. I think were absolutely strangled in this country with red tape. Absolutely. Red tape. Absolutely. And youre an independent councillor now. But it wasnt always that way. What happened . Well. I fell always that way. What happened . Well. I fell out of always that way. What happened . Well. I fell out of love with well. I fell out of love with the conservative party because i believe theyve lost their mojo. I think theyre going in a direction that they dont understand. The public certainly doesnt understand it, and theyre not there now for the benefit of the country. Who are they there for the benefit of then . Because if they were here, they would say, graham, were doing what we can. You know, were we have a huge deficit. We cant reduce taxes. Weve reduced National Insurance from 20 to eight, sorry, from 10 to 8 today. But what else could they do . Well well, i think they should create a ministry of waste because of the amount of waste that goes on in london. And i go to london regularly and i see the lights on in the offices at late at night in whitehall, burning away. Thats the first starting block of what i would do. The chancellor really needs to look at a ministry of waste. How do you think it might look for them in the next election then . I think theyre going to struggle. I think the red wall seats are really , really seats are really, really a problem for rishi sunak. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Julie, you had high voter turnout in this town actually in the last election. It was Something Like 70, which is remarkable. So its quite a politically engaged town. A few people ive spoken to this time say no point voting. Nothing changes. Well, if you dont vote, nothing will change. And i think that the public here are very astute and i love them all. Ive got some great friends and great voters in this area, and i believe that they will let you know what they want and how they want it. Okay. Graham. Well, i think okay. Graham. Well, i think you speak for a lot of the British Public there. We had another interviewee earlier who called them con socialist called them the con socialist party. Martin. Called them the con socialist party. Martin. But beating party. Martin. But that beating heart the north, wanting to heart of the north, wanting to work hard, wanting to make a living and have a purpose and not just sit at home and wait for benefits, but feeling that the government are not helping them quite the right areas. Them in quite the right areas. Dont forget, michelle and nigel farage will broadcasting live farage will be broadcasting live from whitehaven this evening. I will see you later. Will see you later. Superb stuff bev, and please tell graham that many , many of tell graham that many, many of our viewers agree with him. And please get me a bottle of rum from there. The rum story. Thats what id like to hear. I dont suppose id remember the ending. Thank you very much. Now, you mentioned , now, bev, as you just mentioned, isnt the only gb news presenter thats tonight whitehaven. Thats on tonight in whitehaven. After i knock off for the evening, dewbs co from six till seven come from the seven will come live from the town. Following that, its town. And following that, its the event. 7 00 its farage, the big event. 7 00 its farage, nigel farage live broadcasting from whitehaven in front of a Live Audience 7 to 8. You will not want to miss that. Theres loads more to come between now and 5 00. Ill be joined live by and 5 00. Ill be joined live by a shadow cabinet minister to get labours take on todays budget. Plus an expert on the pub sector. But first, its your latest News Headlines with Polly Middlehurst. Middlehurst. The top stories this hour. The top stories this hour. Well , in the top stories this hour. Well, in todays Spring Budget, a mixed picture of spending and reforms. And the chancellor saying hes going to try to let people keep as much of their own money as possible. Jeremy hunt said the governments fiscal performance means the economy is expected to grow this year by 0. 8. But he said the government will cut National Insurance contributions from april the 6th. Employee National Insurance, will be cut by another £0. 02 from 10 to 8, and self employed National Insurance will be cut from 8 to 6. It means an additional £450 a year for the average employee, or £350 for someone self employed. And when someone self employed. And when combined with the autumn reductions, it means 27 million employees will get an average tax cut of £900 a year. Well, aside from the big news on National Insurance contributions, a new hsa scheme has also been announced, aiming to encourage more investment in britain, with an additional £5,000 limit to it. And thats in addition to a £0. 05 cut to fuel duty. Thats locked in for another 12 months. In another move from the chancellor, it systems in the nhs will be upgraded and for businesses theres a change to the vat registration threshold. Thats up from 85,000 to £90,000 a year. And in a move to boost the british pub, the chancellor also extended the freeze on alcohol duty, now funding some of the governments spending will be a new duty on vaping, while taxes on tobacco, we understand, will go up, theres also an increase to duties on non economy flights while Capital Gains tax goes from 28 to 24. Thats expected to boost revenue by encouraging more transactions in investments. The windfall tax on oil and gas profits, that is will continue until 2029. That does raise around £1. 5 billion for the government. But the labour leader, sir keir starmer, said britains credit card is already maxed out. Maxed out. Last desperate act of a party that has failed britain in recession. The National Credit recession. The National Credit card maxed out and despite the measures today, the highest tax burden for 70 years, the First Parliament since records began to see Living Standards fall. Confirmed by this budget today. Thatis confirmed by this budget today. That is their record. It is still their record. Give with one hand and take even more with the other. The other. Those are the latest news headunes those are the latest News Headlines for all the top stories. Sign up for gb news alerts. Scan that qr code on your screen right now or go to gb news. Com slash alerts. Gb news. Com slash alerts. For stunning gold and silver coins, youll always value rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news Financial Report. The gb news Financial Report. Well, how have the markets reacted to todays Spring Budget from the government . Well, i can tell you that the pound will buy you 1. 272. It will also buy you ,1. 169. Gold is £1,683. 08 an ounce, and the ftse has ounce, and the ftse 100 has closed for the day at 7686 points. Rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news Financial Report , so six till seven. Report, so six till seven. Now its fair to say that im a fan of the british beer and pub association. So much so, i was rabbiting away to the chief of it there. Im going to speak to someone from the organisation and minutes time to if and a few minutes time to see if the helped. Pubs the budget has helped. Pubs across the country. Lets see what of this budget. What she makes of this budget. Emma mclaughlin. Im Martin Daubney welcome back. Its 440. Watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news. Now, later in the hour, ill speak to a mortgage expert to see what todays budget means for home owners. But before that , the owners. But before that, the chancellor announced an extension of alcohol duty extension of the alcohol duty freeze until 2025. In that spnng freeze until 2025. In that Spring Budget earlier on today. Now, jeremy hunt says that extension will benefit 38,000 pubs across the uk. Well, im pubs across the uk. Well, im delighted to say im joined now by emma mcclarkin, whos the chief executive of the british beer and pub association. Ive gotjob beer and pub association. Ive got job envy for starters, so a freeze on alcohol duty is that the large measure that you wanted, or do you feel a bit short changed by jeremy hunts budget today . Well, listen, well take no further increases and a duty freeze is welcomed by brewers and pubs and consumers alike. And pubs and consumers alike. But it is valued about 114 million. But were looking into the face of a cliff edge of increase due to wage increases and Business Rates of 450 million in april, so its only gone a very small way into covering those cost pressures that were under. So it is a bit disappointing from that perspective that they didnt give us what we wanted and what did we want. Cuts cuts that would have meant we could have reduced a pint, reduced the cost of a pint, reduced the cost of a pint, reduce the cost of running our pubs and be able to grow and continue being the beating heart of communities. Continue being the beating heart of and ommunities. Continue being the beating heart of and emma,ities. Continue being the beating heart of and emma, i es. Continue being the beating heart of and emma, i know youve been and emma, i know youve been fighting tirelessly since the very beginning of lockdowns. Hospitality, of course was hammered. It was really, really under the cosh and indeed a very sobering statistic here. More pubs closed in the first half of last year than the whole of 2022, and simply landlords are struggling with the soaring costs of supplies, of food, of energy and wages. So a cut would have given them some wiggle room. But is this enough . The reality is , is that these the reality is, is that these cost pressures keep mounting on businesses. We saw 530 pubs closed their doors for good last yeah closed their doors for good last year, an acceleration in the amount of pubs closing their doors, and this is something we want to see closed and sorry, stop and the closure and see that there is going to be this penod that there is going to be this period of stability for the sector where they can recover, they can keep helping invest in people and places, which they do. But the reality is this budget, unfortunately doesnt touch the sides of the taxation burden that theyre under. And so the reality is we could be looking at again , 500 to 600 pub looking at again, 500 to 600 pub closures this year when the opportunity could have been missed. But i do hope that the pubuc missed. But i do hope that the public swing behind it. Public will swing behind it. Perhaps with that knee cut in their theyll feel that their pocket, theyll feel that they can go out and have that extra pint. And my goodness, their local will need it. And pubs, of course, arent just a place you get just a place where you get a drink, especially in villages, in in a place where in towns, in a place where people have company, people go to have company, to stay keep control and stay warm, to keep control and in touch with the community. The great pub is a part of Great British pub is a part of the fabric of our nation, and its not just somewhere where you go for pint. You go for a pint. Absolutely agree with you martin. Matter. Martin. Pops really matter. Thats do my job and im thats why i do my job and im so passionate in fighting and making the argument. And we made so passionate in fighting and maicase he argument. And we made so passionate in fighting and maicase veryrgument. And we made so passionate in fighting and maicase very clearlyt. And we made so passionate in fighting and maicase very clearly to lnd we made the case very clearly to government more. Government that we needed more. We in we needed more support in Business Rates. We needed more support in vat to keep the Great British pub alive. It is an economic activator. It is a multiplier on the high street. But more than that, its that social value, that cultural value it brings our societies value it brings to our societies that will so much poorer that will be so much poorer without. I hope the without. So i hope that in the next fiscal event may be happening in a few months, they will think again what they will think again on what they can really lean into to back british pubs. Super. You very much. Super. Thank you very much. Well to that. Well all drink to that. Emma mcclarkin, executive of well all drink to that. Emma mcc british executive of well all drink to that. Emma mcc british beer, executive of well all drink to that. Emma mcc british beer, pub jtive of well all drink to that. Emma mccbritish beer, pub and of well all drink to that. Emma mccbritish beer, pub and beer the british beer, pub and beer association. Thank so much association. Thank you so much for us in the studio. Forjoining us in the studio. Now lets get some more labour reaction that budget. And im reaction to that budget. And im joined by jonathan joined now by jonathan reynolds, whos shadow business and whos a shadow business and trade secretary. Jonathan, welcome show. Its always welcome to the show. Its always a pleasure. So no surprises keir starmer was saying that the chancellor is smiling as the ship goes down. The public will recognise this tory con. The tories have lost control of the economy. Is that mainly because hes angry that the tories stole your non dom tax idea . Your non dom tax idea . Well, yeah. Well, yeah. First of all, i mean, 14 years, the culmination of total failure to be honest. I mean, here we are, 14 years of conservative government. The tax burden is still going up at the highest level ever. Business investment, the lowest in the g7. Living standards going backwards. I Living Standards going backwards. I mean, Living Standards going backwards. I mean, that Living Standards going backwards. I mean, that is Living Standards going backwards. I mean, that is the backwards. I mean, that is the test people will apply to backwards. I mean, that is the tesyoure people will apply to backwards. I mean, that is the tesyoure fair le will apply to backwards. I mean, that is the tesyoure fair to will apply to backwards. I mean, that is the tesyoure fair to say, apply to backwards. I mean, that is the tesyoure fair to say, yes,. Y to it. Youre fair to say, yes, weve been robbed a little bit of of our policies. Look of some of our policies. Look that happen when youre that that can happen when youre winning and winning the argument and everything a lot conservative everything a lot of conservative mps said that change mps have said about that change to non dom policy. Theyll mps have said about that change to have1 dom policy. Theyll mps have said about that change to have to iom policy. Theyll mps have said about that change to have to eat policy. Theyll mps have said about that change to have to eat their y. Theyll mps have said about that change to have to eat their words. ll mps have said about that change to have to eat their words. But now have to eat their words. But just if they it just imagine if they had done it 5 years before. I think of 5 or 6 years before. I think of the revenue for services the revenue for Public Services offer taxes that that could offer for taxes that that could have and so look, have brought about. And so look, the duty, the burden will be now on to us recognise that were going to put that money to the nhs Emergency Dental nhs into Emergency Dental care in particular. To in particular. Were going to have find an have to go and find an alternative that, because we alternative to that, because we still that need is still believe that need is there, we do that there, but we dont do that immediately there, but we dont do that immediateistolen. Well to something stolen. Well have to go about that go away and think about that properly. Doesnt that tell properly. But doesnt that tell you the you everything that the big picture as dire ever . But picture is as dire as ever . But the only interesting things are the only interesting things are the government are the things the government are stealing the things the government are ste. And can quickly you, and can i quickly ask you, jonathan, the money that jonathan, about the money that youd have left the wiggle room that party would have that the labour party would have if were to get power . If you were to get into power . Liam byrne, course, famously liam byrne, of course, famously left theres no left that letter. Theres no money but the National Money left, but the National Debt then in 2010 was a mere 960 billion. Now the National Debt is 2. 6 trillion. Its almost trebled. So its all fair and well for the labour party to say well for the labour party to say we would do things better. But where would you get the money from . The country is potless the biscuit tin is empty. Yeah, youre right to say it feels like the chancellors operating a sort of scorched earth policy, you know, and its not responsible and its not in the national interest. And course , i regret that. And of course, i regret that. But of course, theres an but of course, theres still an election have. I think the election to have. I think the attitude theyre adopting is not the one. Look, got the right one. Look, weve got some raisers some of our revenue raisers still in place. Well change the taxation schools in taxation of private schools in the kingdom. We will, the united kingdom. We will, for instance, vat and instance, make them pay vat and business we have a change Business Rates. We have a change to private Equity Income Business Rates. We have a change to be private Equity Income Business Rates. We have a change to be taxed. Equity income Business Rates. We have a change to be taxed. Andity income Business Rates. We have a change to be taxed. And well ome Business Rates. We have a change to be taxed. And well have to will be taxed. And well have to find alternative to this find an alternative to this non dom its also non dom policy. And its also important say actually, our important to say actually, our our much our fiscal rules are much tougher day spending. Tougher on day to day spending. And those and thats why that those policies place. They and thats why that those po|allow place. They and thats why that those po|allow a place. They and thats why that those po|allow a bit place. They and thats why that those po|allow a bit more. They and thats why that those po|allow a bit more of they do allow a bit more of investment spending. And thats really important to get the economy growing. Yes, look, economy growing. But yes, look, its also important to, i think, economy growing. But yes, look, it say;o important to, i think, economy growing. But yes, look, it say what ortant to, i think, economy growing. But yes, look, it say what we ant to, i think, economy growing. But yes, look, it say what we really i think, economy growing. But yes, look, it say what we really need1k, economy growing. But yes, look, it say what we really need to to say what we really need to see british work see the british economy work better. About better. Its not all about spending. I mean planning and building homes. Thats a big part well do part of what well do differently conservative part of what well do differently the conservative part of what well do differently the skillsiservative part of what well do differently the skills system e party, how the skills system works, apprenticeship works, the apprenticeship levy, letting spend more letting businesses spend more of those their funds on those funds, their own funds on upskilling workforce , upskilling their workforce, improving their deal with the european make european union, which will make the faster, having the economy grow faster, having stronger rights. Stronger Employment Rights. I mean, things mean, there are other things that we can do, but weve also got those switch spends place got those switch spends in place , and its aggregate effect , and its the aggregate effect of which we believe of all of those which we believe will Better Living will give People Better Living Standards, a faster growing economy better economy and better Public Services. Services. So, jonathan, it sounds like the then is increase the only way then is to increase taxes. Jeremy hunt said today taxes. Jeremy hunt said today the be a party the labour party will be a party of increased taxes and made a joke. Peter mandelson , of joke. Peter mandelson, of course, advising sir keir starmer to lose a bit of weight. Starmer to lose a bit of weight. And then he joked that the British Public that lost a few pounds if the labour party was to power. To get in power. Well, i mean, the facts remain that the conservative party has put the tax burden up to the highest ever level in british history. So its a little bit rich to criticise other people. If you look at the other people. If you look at the aggregate effect of the tax changes announced in this parliament, people are paying higher taxes today than when the parliament was formed in 2019. The National Insurance cuts are only giving you back maybe half of increase youve already of the increase youve already had to suffer through the Tax Thresholds being through thresholds being frozen through Higher Council taxes, the government the government puts more of the burden like social burden of things like social care onto the council tax burden. And people this. Burden. And people know this. I mean, arent they mean, people arent stupid. They know better off. And know theyre not better off. And its that thats the its a tragedy that thats the reality after 14 of reality after 14 years of conservative but conservative government. But thatis conservative government. But that is the case. And i think, you know, a little bit of self awareness and humility from the conservative probably the conservative party probably is also, is necessary there. But also, you the things that other you know, the things that other things ive just said you know, the things that other thirnecessary ive just said you know, the things that other thir necessary to ive just said you know, the things that other thirnecessary to get just said you know, the things that other thir necessary to get the said you know, the things that other thir necessary to get the economy are necessary to get the economy going faster. They deliver going faster. They cant deliver those never going those things. Youre never going to employment to get stronger Employment Rights better relationship rights and a better relationship with public with europe and Public Investment net zero investment to tackle net zero from conservative from the conservative party. If they going to that, they were going to do that, theyd done in theyd have done it already in theyd have done it already in the 14 years. The last 14 years. Okay. Thanks forjoining us. Jonathan is the shadow jonathan rado is the shadow business secretary. Business and trade secretary. Thanks its thanks for your time. Its always a pleasure. Now moving on. More than 14 Million People in the have mortgages, many in the uk have mortgages, many of have been hit by high of whom have been hit by high Interest Rates, of course, and the chancellor trailed a 99 mortgage stamp duty mortgage scheme stamp duty relief and lifetime isa help, whilst earlier pledging to build homes for young people. But he failed to mention any of the above in his budget today. So does the chancellor care about British Housing . And to discuss this, im now joined by Sally Mitchell , whos a senior mitchell, whos a senior Mortgage Broker at the mortgage firm. Fantastic name and youre always a great guest. Sally, a lot of people saying the same thing today, housing is a huge issue, particularly young people who seem the dream of Home Ownership is constantly out of touch. And yet nothing today, sally, in that budget for homeowners or those hoping to get on the ladder. Yeah, i was underwhelmed, i suppose i shouldnt have been surprised because the budget was touted and he said it many times a budget for long tum growth. And i do appreciate it that were not exactly awash with buckets of cash. But it is such buckets of cash. But it is such a shame that the opportunity wasnt taken to really help those , particularly first time those, particularly First Time Buyers who need to get onto the property ladder. And unwise, because i think thats the part of the electorate that the tories really want to , you know, tories really want to, you know, bnng tories really want to, you know, bring over to their side. And they they , they could have done they they, they could have done something really special just to help First Time Buyers of the lifeblood of the Property Market, i heard something the other day that, you know , bees other day that, you know, bees without bees, our ecosystems will fail, well, without First Time Buyers, the whole Property Market just doesnt really rotate. It doesnt revolve. So we need them in at the ground level. And so what would you like to see stamp duty cuts or incentives to buy. And lets not even get started on nimbyism. The absolute failure, the lack of building of housing out there. I know , i mean, he did he did i know, i mean, he did he did say that he had promised another million houses, and it does look like theres a lot of development around there. But the reality is, when it comes to this , it is nimbyism. No one this, it is nimbyism. No one wants it in their backyard , but wants it in their backyard, but also the whole planning, system is archaic and its not working. Theres a whole lack of actual planning inspectors around, so things dont get pushed through. They make it unnecessarily difficult for people to improve their homes and to build new homes , and its really, really homes, and its really, really difficult. I would have liked to have seen a little help on stamp duty. I really would , because duty. I really would, because the average deposit for a First Time Buyer is over 55,000. Now, i dont know about you, but i would find that incredibly difficult to save up for , difficult to save up for, especially if youre renting and we know that rents are incredibly high at the moment. So how people are meant to get that together, i dont know. That together, i dont know. And sadly, something that was mentioned three times by the chancellor of the exchequer today was net migration. And of course, that is an issue when it comes to the housing market, simply because its a matter of supply and demand. And yet we see the figures through the roof, 745,000 this year. And of course , irrespective of your course, irrespective of your opinions on net migration , sadly opinions on net migration, sadly that chokes off supply and it pushes up prices. It does, which is why inflation is proving to be really sticky. And weve got higher Interest Rates with the bank of england base rates sticking because we cannot get a grip on inflation. So it is, what a vicious circle. But its you can see how everything is interacting and, and related. So weve really got to get that inflation figure down, some people say that you can trace this, this service side of the economy , this this, downgrade in economy, this this, downgrade in the service side of the economy all the way back to brexit. So, you know , its been going on for you know, its been going on for a very long time. Yes. And thank you very much for joining us on the show today. Sally mitchell, whos a senior Mortgage Broker at the mortgage murmur i just love the name your company. Thank you name of your company. Thank you very joining now very much forjoining us. Now weve loads emails to go weve got loads of emails to go through you for your through and ask you for your responses the show, responses throughout the show, as as bev being as well as bev being in whitehaven , youve been getting whitehaven, youve been getting in touch droves and that in touch in your droves and that topic of immigration comes topic there of immigration comes up lot. Before that, up quite a lot. But before that, this really resonates with me as two. Christine said this. I was so disappointed by the behaviour of some mps. While jeremy hunt was giving his budget speech earlier on, they were shouting like spoilt children. What kind of example is this setting for the Younger Generation . No wonder teachers are struggling to keep pupils quiet in the classroom. If children are being raised to learn that, it is okay to shout back and christine , one to shout back and christine, one mp was told four times to stop shouting and if he carried on, hed had been given the boot. Linda adds this im sorry to have to bring this up, but the question of Illegal Immigrants being given everything from houses , flats to clothing phones houses, flats to clothing phones when the average person is struggling to pay higher rents. All of this is paid for by the taxpayer. This is the most important thing to me as i worry for my grandchildren with this huge influx , influx of unchecked huge influx, influx of unchecked people and none of this at all was addressed in this budget today, and it should have been. Today, and it should have been. And jemmy says this quickly i dont drink, i dont smoke , but dont drink, i dont smoke, but theres been absolutely nothing in the budget for me, despite the fact that i pay thousands and thousands in tax. And donald and thousands in tax. And donald quickly adds this absolutely nothing for pensioners. Most of us pensioners vote conservative. Hunters just given us all a very good reason to vote reform uk and quickly , peter says i am uk and quickly, peter says i am a pensioner. The last two pension increases were massive. Whats more, do you want. So peter is happy about that. Now in a few minutes time ill be joined by our economics and Business Editor, Liam Halligan , Business Editor, Liam Halligan, who will cut through all the grease and give you the juice. But before that, its time for your Weather Forecast your latest Weather Forecast with mcgivern. With Aidan Mcgivern. A brighter outlook with boxt solar. Solar. Sponsors of weather on gb news. Hello and welcome to the gb news Weather Forecast from the met office. Some western parts of the uk are being treated to warm spells of sunshine today. Cloudier further east and relatively chilly with a breeze from the north sea that is bringing some low cloud in because of this High Pressure to the east across eastern scotland and northeast england , along and northeast england, along with some drizzly rain, particularly over eastern hills, but west weve got those but further west weve got those sunny spells. Although showers are across cornwall are turning up across cornwall and cloud has been hanging around western parts of around for western parts of northern ireland. Now that edges away clear spells away overnight. Clear spells here, also for here, clear spells also for western wales and the western scotland, wales and the southwest get southwest where we do get the clear skies. Well, therell a clear skies. Well, therell be a touch here and there touch of frost here and there and freezing fog patches. And some freezing fog patches. But further east the cloud but further east the low cloud sticks around overnight and in factit sticks around overnight and in fact it will be bringing a lot of mist and hill fog to northern parts of england and eastern scotland. We keep that going through the morning tomorrow, but then eventually it lifts and as the cloud lifts and as temperatures rise, there will be some sharp showers developing, particularly in an through particularly in an area through the east wales, the midlands, east wales, perhaps parts of perhaps southern parts of england through afternoon, england through the afternoon, warm and southwest warm in the south and southwest 12 to 14 celsius, staying chilly along that north sea coast. Friday brings further cloud to eastern parts of the uk and some patchy cloud further west as well, but its a drier day on the whole. Most places getting away without any rainfall on friday, same cant be said for the weekend. Outbreaks of showery rain moved north across the country, although it stays mild in the south. Looks like things are heating up boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. A very good afternoon to you all. Its 5 pm. Welcome to the Martin Daubney show on gb news broadcasting live from the heart of westminster all across the uk on one of the biggest days on the political calendar. On one of the biggest days on the political calendar. Jeremy the political calendar. Jeremy hunt has delivered his final spnng hunt has delivered his final Spring Budget before the general election, and he says that the tories represent the only way forward a plan to grow the economy versus no plan, a plan for better Public Services versus no plan. A plan to make work, pay versus no plan. Growth up jobs up, taxes down. But as youd expect, sir keir starmer was having absolutely none of it and says the tories have lost control of the economy i but any notion that they can serve the country not themselves, party first, country second, while working people pay the price. The price. And the big question is will this budget help the tories win the general election . Well, the people that gb news has spoken to have given their verdict and it has to be said its not looking good for rishi sunak , looking good for rishi sunak, only bringing these things forward just just because election might be coming up. But its just not really for the working man or our nhs or things. What people need. Things. What people need. You know, if you want to know what people really think, get out of the bubble. Get out of westminster , speak to the great westminster, speak to the Great British public. What do they make of the pantomime of the budget . They see through it. Budget . They see through it. They see that theyre not feeling particularly better off, and they gave us everything today went see them today when we went to see them in whitehaven and hundreds of emails from you, weve got so much come between now much more to come between now and a few minutes. Our and 6 00 in a few minutes. Our economics Business Editor , economics and Business Editor, Liam Halligan, give us his Liam Halligan, will give us his expert the budget expert analysis of the budget and cut through the grease. But first, we can hear from the chancellor of the exchequer. Chancellor of the exchequer. Well, this is a budget that will grow the economy by delivering better Public Services means people will have to wait less long to see a doctor get their cancer scans back more quickly , and also back more quickly, and also bnngs back more quickly, and also brings down taxes, which will fire up the economy. It puts fire up the economy. It puts £900in fire up the economy. It puts £900 in someone on the average wage. If you combine it with the National Insurance cuts in the autumn and the choice when it comes to an election is between a party that believes the way we get the economy going is to bnng get the economy going is to bring taxes down, or the way you get the economy going is to spend more, and conservatives believe that lower tax economies are dynamic , and that is are more dynamic, and that is the big choice that people will have this year. But polling actually suggests that people dont want tax cuts. They want more money public they want more money for Public Services. You say to services. What do you say to those fear this those voters who fear this budget baking in more to budget is baking in more cuts to services . Weve invested services . Well, weve invested nearly £6 more in the nearly £6 billion more in the nhs this year. That means that people are going to wait less long for a doctors appointment. Theyre going to get their scan results back more quickly. Its going to save a lot of lives. Its going to make the more efficient. To make the nhs more efficient. And we set out a plan that is going to make all our Public Services better and more efficient. So its a budget for better Public Services, but its also a budget that recognises if we want to have a rapidly growing economy creating jobs for the future, we need to bring down taxes and well do so in a responsible way, which is what weve done with the National Insurance cuts that mean an extra £450 for someone on the average wage. Average wage. There were no rabbits out of the hat in this budget. Is it . Is that the Lasting Legacy of liz truss . Youre too scared of spooking the markets. Youd rather underwhelm them instead. Very significant this was a very significant budget in two ways. Weve shown that we can continue to cut taxes in a way that makes a real difference to peoples family budgets. Combined with the budgets. Combined with the autumn, its an extra £900 in peoples pockets if theyre on the average wage from the National Insurance cuts and make pubuc National Insurance cuts and make Public Services better at the same time, a big Transformation Plan for the nhs to help the police cut crime, to help our schools be run more efficiently. So its a budget that protects pubuc so its a budget that protects Public Services, brings down taxes and helps grow the economy. But fiscal drag actually means that even with your National Insurance cuts, most workers will be worse off than they would have been had. Thresholds risen with thresholds just risen with inflation. Are you planning to raise any time raise those thresholds . Any time soon, take soon, even after you take account the impact of thresholds, what you see is that after a four percentage point cut in National Insurance, there is a big reduction in the tax bill for ordinary families. And that is because the economy has turned a corner. Weve stuck to the plan. We have. The forecasts are much more optimistic for the economy going forward. And as conservatives, we believe that if we bring down the tax burden that will fire up the tax burden that will fire up the economy, create more jobs, more money for Public Services like. Like the n hs. Like the nhs. One more quick one. One of your ministers has described your ministers has described your measure to extend the oil and gas windfall tax as deeply disappointing. Will keep job . Will he keep his job . Will he keep his job . Well . A scottish mp and well . He is a scottish mp and you know, i understand there are local concerns well be engaging with the oil and gas industry to talk about those concerns. But talk about those concerns. But given that high prices following the invasion of ukraine have lasted much longer than anyone predicted at the time, i think its fair that the oil and gas industry should make an additional contribution to the amount of money that we have been having to spend on cost of living support. Been having to spend on cost of living support. Thank you. And as youd imagine , hes and as youd imagine, hes standing by his guns. But lets crunch the numbers in the less the last Spring Budget now, before that general election. And break it down for and here to break it down for you, what means for the pound you, what it means for the pound and pence in your is and the pence in your pocket is gb economics and business gb news economics and Business Editor with on the editor Liam Halligan with on the money this was a relatively low key, unambitious fiscal announcement. It didnt feel to announcement. It didnt feel to me like the last roll of the dice before a general election in may. It seems to me that the tories are still going to go for an election in october or november. Lower taxes mean higher growth, said chancellor jeremy hunt, and that means more prosperity, more money for our pubuc prosperity, more money for our public service. This is a budget for long terme growth. How are we going to get that growth going . Well, the headline pre announced everyone knew it was coming, a2p cut in the headune was coming, a2p cut in the headline rate of National Insurance from april to 8. When you combine that with the £0. 02 cut in National Insurance that was introduced in january from 12 to 10, the average worker in this country will be £900 a year better off. That is not to be sniffed at. Another tax giveaway is the freeze in fuel duty. Fuel duty on petrol and diesel will remain at 52. 95 per litre, just less than £0. 53 for the next 12 months. That fuel duty has been frozen since 2011, and that freeze is worth around £50 a year to the average motorists. A third giveaway alcohol duty has been frozen for an extra six months until february 2025. It helps 38,000 pubs across the uk. Helps 38,000 pubs across the uk. Our publican sector. Hospitality as a whole has been hammered in recent years and this is at least some help for them. More help for the enterprising brits trying to get the economy growing a rise in Small Business vat threshold from 85,000 to £90,000 a year, you can now turn over £90,000 in your business without paying vat. Its the first rise in the vat threshold for seven years. Again, not too much, but worse than nothing at all. Another pro growth measure , all. Another pro growth measure, which the chancellor emphasised a new british isa. Thats an a new british isa. Thats an individual savings account. If you want to invest in stocks and shares, you get an extra £5,000 annualisa shares, you get an extra £5,000 annual isa allowance. If you invest that money in uk stocks and shares. Again, trying to get and shares. Again, trying to get the economy moving , how are we the economy moving, how are we going to pay for all this . All these giveaways . One way the these giveaways . One way the chancellor wants to pay for it is by extending the windfall tax on north sea oil and gas extraction from 2020 28 to 2029 Companies Operating in the north sea, and theyre often quite small companies, not the big oil and gas majors are paying 75 now on their profits this year. Long extension is estimated to raise £1. 5 billion. Since jeremy hunt. But it raise £1. 5 billion. Since jeremy hunt. But it wont raise that money if the taxation is so high that the oil and Gas Companies just cancel projects altogether. Theres a lot of anger about this in scotland, where oil and gas industry is centred, and indeed the leader of the scottish conservatives has already said he will vote against this aspect of his own governments budget. Its governments budget. Its another way to raise money. The chancellor hopes to clamp down on non dom tax status that often yacht dwelling foreigners who reside in the uk and they dont pay reside in the uk and they dont pay so much tax on their foreign income that non dom tax status is going to be abolished from april 2025. The tories very much stealing labours clothes. The opposition have been saying they want to do this for some time. Its an increase. Also on duty on non economy airfares. That is business and first class. Two more measures aimed at the wealthy trying to raise money not to spend on more on public spending, says the tories, but to deliver tax cuts. That is the philosophical difference between them, says the chancellor. Vaping and smoking duty on vaping products is going to be introduced from 2026. Its going to be paid on imports and by manufacturers that will be offset by a one off rise in tobacco duty. Some people say that because vaping helps people stop smoking, that because vaping helps people stop smoking , there should be no stop smoking, there should be no duty on vaping products. Thats a controversy to come. And another tax raising measure. The chancellor wants to end tax perks for landlords with short terme holiday lets and other short tum rentals. This could affect everything from holiday homes to airbnb and so on. And the chancellor says hes going to implement controls to tackle local pricing out of residents. When short terme holiday lets are implemented in order to give local families a chance to buy and rent new homes. Theres nothing compassionate about running out of money, said jeremy hunt in a jibe at labour. Weve turned the corner on inflation and we will soon turn the corner on growth. So what are the Major Political parties made of this budget . Well, lets cross now to our political editor, chris hope. Chris, welcome to the hope. Chris, welcome back to the show. So no surprises. The chancellor of the exchequer standing by his guns. No surprises again that the keir starmer is saying that the chancellor is smiling as the ship goes down. But chris, what struck me has been the reaction from the gb news viewers. And theyre very, very canny , very, theyre very, very canny, very, very switched on. They get that a 2 cut on gni helps them, but they also get that fiscal drag isnt helping them. People expected today. Chris, a rabbit to be pulled out of a hat. Instead, they feel like the chancellor was acting like a rabbit in the headlights. That maybe the budgets a bit too timid, a bit too lame. Yeah, and that word tepid. Martin. Hello again from college. Green. Thats right. Tepid was the word which some viewers used to me. The lesson the political lessons from this are quite interesting, i think. I mean, most people now think there will be no may election. Thats the one takeaway, a labour cabinet minister said to me just very recently that are they me just very recently that are they i now cant see a may election. Ive often thought its been a labour roof to try and, convince the voters and other other electorate. One more widely, that theres no way that the tory party is going to hang on to office after may. But in fact, i think now we can look towards a november election. I was struck also by the fact that the chancellor said times, the chancellor said three times, we Economic Growth we cant have Economic Growth fuelled by migration at the same time the obr, the office of time as the obr, the office of budget responsibility increased the forecast of net migration to this country, up from 245,000 to 315,000 a year. So thats quite interesting. Where will that interesting. Where will that growth come from . Will, can they get those people sitting on, on, on, out of work benefits into work . Thats the key challenge , work . Thats the key challenge, earlier i spoke to Philip Hammond, of hammond, lord hammond of runnymede. Hes the former runnymede. Hes the former chancellor, he chancellor, about whether he thought was a conservative thought this was a conservative budget. Heres what he had to say me. Yes i think it was. Say to me. Yes i think it was. It was cautious. It was clear in signalling the future trajectory, which is about lower taxes, increased productivity as being the solution to this conundrum about, on the one hand, how we fund Public Services and on the other hand, how we get taxes down. And we heard there they might try and bring together or even aboush try and bring together or even abolish National Insurance in the is that something the future. Is that something you when you were you looked at when you were chancellor . Isnt. You looked at when you were chaimllor . Isnt. You looked at when you were chaim quite isnt. You looked at when you were chaim quite weddedt. You looked at when you were chaim quite wedded to the im quite wedded to the principle National Insurance principle of National Insurance contribution. I think the contributory is contributory principle is important in our tax system. But important in our tax system. But getting it down as an incentive to people to be in work is important. And the chancellor made the point, i dont think, by coincidence, at the beginning of his speech that we can fix our Economic Growth problem by seeing more migration, or we can fix it by getting some of the 10 million adults who are not working at the moment. Back into the workforce. And thats the route hes chosen to follow. And thats a challenge which it seems that successive tory governments have failed to deal with. This increasing number of people not working and on and on benefits. I think philip people not working and on and on benefits. I think Philip Hammond was interesting that i talked also to norman lamont, lord lamont of lerwick, and he he went to when he was chief went back to when he was chief secretary of the treasury, worked nigel lawson. The secretary of the treasury, work of nigel lawson. The secretary of the treasury, work of getting gel lawson. The secretary of the treasury, work of getting rid lawson. The secretary of the treasury, work of getting rid of nson. The secretary of the treasury, work of getting rid of the]. The idea of getting rid of the non dom status was one was looked at by lawson and now it looks like delivered by jeremy hunt. And interestingly, the pm rishi sunak had to recuse himself, withdraw from any chat about that because his wife , about that because his wife, akshata murty, a non dom and akshata murty, is a non dom and she in the uk on her she pays tax in the uk on her global earnings. Theres a challenge here for the labour party. Where will they find the money for their various plans . Theyve got . Because the non dom tax being been tax status being axed had been a key way of them spending, of finding, money quickly finding, raising money quickly to spend on their priorities if they win power. So it does present challenges to the keir starmer, the question now is can a tax cut of 4 of National Insurance in just three months increase the partys very low standing in the polls . Thats the tory party will wait and see. Thats the big question. Thank you as ever, chris. Hope there live from parliament. And im joined now by Michelle Dewberry who of course tonight in whitehaven 6 to 7 is dewbs co jobs. Are you there person. Co jobs. Are you there person. Its like good evening. Its like good evening. Its like good evening. Yes indeed i am. Look at this. Theyve let me out and about martin. What an absolute treat. What an absolute treat. I love it when they do that. So yes, weve got a packed audience full of the lovely people of whitehaven and what were to talk about. Were going to talk about. Theres only one story well, theres only one story in town, isnt there . Course, is the budget. I want to unpick all. I want to unpick it all. I want to ask people, what did you think today . Something think today . Is it something that happy . Is your that makes you happy . Is your life be better as a result . Was there anything in there for you . What was missing . What should have there . Found some have been in there . I found some of it absolutely fascinating. Martin. Many martin. This windfall tax, many people should have people would say it should have been to banks. I want been extended to banks. I want to that. Capital to get into that. The Capital Gains situation. People gains situation. Many people want gains to be want Capital Gains now to be changed, to be more in line with income tax. Of this budget went of course, this budget went completely other way. Completely the other way. Got Aaron Bastani and ive got Aaron Bastani and Mark Littlewood as keeping ive got Aaron Bastani and marcompany. Od as keeping ive got Aaron Bastani and marcompany. Od asof keeping ive got Aaron Bastani and marcompany. Od asof my keeping ive got Aaron Bastani and marcompany. Od asof my panel1g ive got Aaron Bastani and marcompany. Od asof my panel says me company. One of my panel says pack having all of these pack it in. Having all of these frequent budgets just have one budget parliamentary terms. Budget per parliamentary terms. Also, they say get rid of the obe. And last but not least, obe. And last but not least, ive got to ask the question what on earth was that all about . Starting the budget with this memorial for the this whole memorial for the muslim in the World Muslim Community in the world war, that a needed, necessary war, is that a needed, necessary step to help bring people together or not . Well, Michelle Dewberry , that well, Michelle Dewberry, that sounds like a cracking show. And ive got to say, weve had the director of the institute of fiscal studies on the show. Weve lords , ladies, big weve had lords, ladies, big nobs, mps, the only people that matter , michelle, as you know, matter, michelle, as you know, are the Great British public. On that bombshell, on the Alan Partridge moment, descriptions there did make me chuckle. There did make me chuckle. Cor blimey. Cor blimey. But yeah, everyone is getting involved. I think thats the message Michelle Dewberry made message Michelle Dewberry made me blush. That takes some doing out before 6 00. All right, lets get back to serious stuff because it is a serious day. Michelle dewberry six till seven, live from whitehaven. Of seven, live from whitehaven. Of course, after that seven is nigel farage. Now well have much more reaction to todays budget between now and and budget between now and 6 00. And of can get lots more of course you can get lots more of course you can get lots more of story on website. Of that story on our website. And thanks you, gb news dot and thanks to you, gb news dot com growing com is the Fastest Growing national in the National News website in the country. Its got breaking news country. Its got breaking news and all of brilliant and all of the brilliant analysis come expect analysis youve come to expect from gb news. Now its time for the latest Great British giveaway and your chance to win £12,345 12345 in cash and a whole host of seasonal treats. Whole host of seasonal treats. And heres how you can get your mitts on all of those goodies. Were springing into spring and giving you the to win the giving you the chance to win the seasonal essentials first. Theres an incredible £12,345 in tax free cash to be won, plus a spring shopping spree with £500 in shopping vouchers to spendin £500 in shopping vouchers to spend in the store of your choice. And finally, a garden gadget package to enjoy, including a handheld games console, a portable Smart Speaker and a pizza oven for your chance to win the vouchers. The treats and £12,345 in tax free cash. Text gb win to 84 902. Text cost £2 plus one Standard Network rate message or post your name and number two gb zero three, po box 8690. Derby de19 double tee, uk only entrants must be 18 or over. Lines close at 5 pm. On friday the 29th march. Full terms and Privacy Notice at gbnews. Com win. Please check the closing time if watching or listening on demand. Good luck listening on demand. Good luck great stuff now, as we expected, jeremy hunt has cut National Insurance by £0. 02 in the pound. But is that enough to help hard working people who are struggling to make ends meet . Well have all that coming up on Martin Daubney on gb news, britains news channel welcome back. Its 522. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news. Now, today is the 40th anniversary of the start of the miners strike. And later this hour, across to sheffield to get reaction from former miners to the budget. Looking forward to that now. Jeremy hunt has cut National Insurance by £0. 02 for the second time in just a few months. But with the just a few months. But with the country facing its highest tax burden for more than 70 years, is that really enough to ease the pressure on millions of families across this country . Well, lets speak now to robert palmer, whos the ceo of tax justice uk. Robert, welcome to the show. So we started the day with the highest taxes since world war two. We ended the day with the highest taxes since 1948. Toupie from National Insurance is all fine and well, but fiscal drag is getting more and more people into higher tax brackets brackets. Robert palmer we just have to face it. We might as well face it. Theyre addicted to tax. Addicted to tax. Good afternoon and great to be with you. Yes, its really interesting. You know, the chancellor talks a good game about cutting taxes. But as you point out, overall taxes are going up, you know, and the cuts that he announced today, theyre worth about £8 for the average worker, £8 a week, you know , worker, £8 a week, you know, given rising prices, thats not really very much. And, you know, really very much. And, you know, i think this this really feels like a sort of cut and run budget. Some some headline sugar rush , high of tax cuts. But rush, high of tax cuts. But whats baked in coming down the line are spending cuts. And if you go out, you know, we have roads that are covered in potholes. People have to wait potholes. People have to wait often years for an nhs appointment , often years for an nhs appointment, i had a friend who had to drive 45 minutes to register for a dentist, and he thought himself lucky. You know, thought himself lucky. You know, this country is falling apart and £8 a week extra in your pocket isnt really going to do it. So we need to see proper investment to turn our country around. And, you know, and i think if you look out there and talk to people, look at the polls, people arent buying what jeremy hunt to offer. Jeremy hunt has to offer. Whats interesting, robert, people are very, very canny. Theyre very, very savvy. Weve had hundreds and hundreds of emails come in today and people are saying, what did we expect now . Spent £400 billion on now . They spent £400 billion on furlough, lockdowns. We furlough, on lockdowns. We ostensibly bankrupted the economy by paying people to not work that could that couldnt be on the never never. Now work that could that couldnt be on the never never. Now were having to pay it back. And as a consequence , people are being consequence, people are being punished for what the government did during lockdowns. Well, i mean, what you can see is, you know, really significant underinvestment across the country. And thats a real problem. Obviously, we had covid, which meant that lots of countries like ours had to spend more money. And if you look across the atlantic to the us, they have some of the highest growth rates out of rich countries. And have they done that . Thats because theyve invested their future. And, invested in their future. And, you know, theyve invested to have clean and secure energy have a clean and secure energy supply, theyve invested to support people. And thats not support people. And thats not what were doing in this country. So yes, weve got some big challenges were facing, but there an alternative where there is an alternative where we, you know, properly fixed our failing Public Services and our lack of investment in this country, rather than handing out this measly £8 a week, in a tax cut, which i dont think is going to change anyones mind or really have that much impact on their pockets given high levels of inflation and the cost of living crisis. Yeah, i think youre bang on the money there. Thank you so much for joining the money there. Thank you so much forjoining us on the show. Much for joining us on the show. Robert palmer, the tax robert palmer, the ceo of tax justice uk. Dead right justice uk. Youre dead right people are saying this was tepid. They expected a big firework and instead they got a damp squib. Well, gb news is the damp squib. Well, gb news is the peoples channel and we want to hear from people all over the uk, not just in the westminster bubble. So lets cross to edinburgh now and speak to our scotland reporter, tony maguire. Tony. So it was a budget of winners and losers and unfortunately one of the losers is a subject weve been looking at here in scotland all day today. The hospitality sector, we were expecting that all important vat cut, a return to the pandemic times where it was reduced all the way down from 20 to 5 before rising to 12. 5 and then to 20. So im joined by leon thompson, executive director of uk hospitality in scotland. How are you feeling after todays budget , incredibly disappointed, my, my members and businesses right across hospitality will take todays budget as a really heavy blow against their economic fortunes. We really needed to see movement on vat today. Weve been campaigning really hard to get a reduction to 12. 5. Businesses have really joined together in that call. Together in that call. We know that the public has supported that call to reduce vat as well. The fact that it hasnt happened will leave many businesses today wondering what their will be, we their next moves will be, we know that many businesses are in a very difficult situation financially. Vat would have helped them, a reduction in vat would also have unlocked growth and investment in the in the medium firm. Our businesses cant do that. Our businesses cant move forward. Were locked in a spiral of high costs. And we businesses have have nowhere to go. After todays budget. We heard a little bit about, some vat help for Small Businesses. I believe there was a rise from, 85 to 90,000, but thats not going to help the businesses in scotland, particularly the medium medium and large sized businesses who are really getting squeezed because there of course, there are no business rate relief here in scotland for them either. Thats right. Thats right. I mean, this budget obviously comes on the heels the comes hard on the heels of the Scottish Governments budget in december, which gave us nothing as well. December, which gave us nothing as we. December, which gave us nothing as we didnt get the 75 rates we didnt get the 75 rates relief, our businesses in relief, which our businesses in england currently enjoying england are currently enjoying and will enjoy into into next yeah we lost close to 400 hospitality businesses in scotland last year. We may be destined to lose more in the coming months, many businesses just cant continue with the increasing costs that that theyre facing and being expected to manage now. We are resilient sector and businesses have shown that time and time again, particularly businesses in scotland. You know, they will in scotland. You know, they will be digging in, they will be digging in hard and, you know, continuing to deliver those great, those great experiences to their customers. But you know, we weve had no support through from the uk government today. And that chimes in with the lack of support that we receive from the Scottish Government in december last yeah government in december last year, all those 400 businesses that were lost last year , well, that were lost last year, well, they may be followed by more so a recent survey shows that around 9 of Scottish Hospitality leaders feared that their business would not to last their business would not to last the end of 2024, but a resilient sector will need to wait and see and hopefully that festivals like the fringe, which is held here on the royal mile in edinburgh, will play their roles in that. In that. Thank you tony. Live there in edinburgh and loads of emails coming in and well read a few of them out. Very, very passionate. You guys really, passionate. You guys really, really know your onions, neil says this. What about those of us forced into us who are forced into retirement because the lockdowns destroyed our business over destroyed our business of over 30 years . Were 62 and we dont get a pension. Were trying to get a pension. Were trying to get by on our savings and the interest we receive. We still pay interest we receive. We still pay tax but dont pay National Insurance any more. So please tell us whats in it for us. And heres another one from ken. Again, bang on the money can what do people expect after a pandemic that cost £400 billion for furlough and vaccinations . None of that money was for free and had to be paid back and quickly won. Here. On that topic of a £1 million cash handout to build a war memorial for muslims , carol says this i always believe that all soldiers were equal believe that all soldiers were equal. We have a memorial in our town with muslim names on it already. So why on earth are we now spending £1 million for a separate memorial just for muslims . Carol, its a great point. Please keep those views coming in. Vaiews gbnews. Com. And theres loads more still to come between now and 6 00. And ill ask what difference the brand new so called british isa will make for savers. Brand new so called british isa will make for savers. But brand new so called british isa will make for savers. But first, will make for savers. But first, its will make for savers. But first, wsfime will make for savers. But first, its time for your latest news headunes its time for your latest News Headlines with Polly Middlehurst. Martin. Thank you. Lets just bnng martin. Thank you. Lets just bring you some breaking news coming to us from yemen. Were heanng coming to us from yemen. Were hearing that two sailors have died after a Houthi Missile attack on a vessel in the red sea. We know that attacks on commercial shipping in that region have been a problem over the last few months. The latest the last few months. The latest details that are coming to us suggest three other crew members are missing, and a number of others are seriously injured. We understand 20 people were on board at the time of the houthi attack. In a statement on social attack. In a statement on social media, the British Embassy in yemen has gone on record saying it was the sad and predictable result of a reckless missile launch. Result of a reckless missile launch. The rebel group, backed launch. The rebel group, backed by iran, has claimed responsibility for that attack. We understand the ship is now reported to be on fire and drifting at sea, so that news just in to us, of course, well bnng just in to us, of course, well bring you more on events in those commercial shipping lanes near the red sea on the red sea, rather in our next hour of news. Well, the other big story today, of course, the Spring Budget and a mixed bag of spending and reforms as the chancellor announces let keep announces it will let keep people keep as much of their own money possible. He said the money as possible. He said the governments fiscal performance money as possible. He said the govern|the ts fiscal performance money as possible. He said the govern|the economy performance money as possible. He said the govern|the economy willyrmance money as possible. He said the govern|the economy will grow ce money as possible. He said the govern|the economy will grow this means the economy will grow this year by 0. 8. But he said the government will cut National Insurance from april the 6th. Employee National Insurance will be cut by another £0. 02 from 10 to 8, and self employed National Insurance will be cut from 8 to 6. It means an additional £450 a year for the average employee, or £350 for someone self employed. When combined with the autumn reductions, it means 27 million employees will get an average tax cut of £900 a year. Well also in the Spring Budget today, also in the Spring Budget today, a new isa scheme has been announced aiming to encourage more investment in britain, with an additional £5,000 limit on that one. Theres also a £0. 05 cut to fuel duty locked in for another 12 months. We also heard it systems in the nhs will be upgraded and for businesses theres a change to the vat registration threshold. Thats registration threshold. Thats up from 85,000 a year to 90,000 a year, plus. Up from 85,000 a year to 90,000 a year, plus. In a move to up from 85,000 a year to 90,000 a year, plus. In a move to boost a year, plus. In a move to boost the british pub, the chancellor also extended the freeze on alcohol duty. Now also extended the freeze on alcohol duty. Now funding some of the governments spending will be a new duty on vaping. While taxes on tobacco are said to go up and the windfall tax on oil and gas profits will also continue until 2029, raising around £1. 5 billion for the government. The labour leader, sir keir starmer, said the chancellors budget shows that britains credit card is maxed out. Well have more analysis on the budget for you throughout the budget for you throughout the evening right here on gb news. And for the latest stories do sign up to gb news alerts. Scan qr on screen scan that qr code on your screen or news. Com slash or go to gb news. Com slash alerts. Alerts. For a valuable legacy your family can own , gold coins will family can own, gold coins will always shine bright. Rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news Financial Report. News Financial Report. And how has the Spring Budget had an impact on the markets . Well, the pound will buy you 511. 2753 and well, the pound will buy you 1. 2753 and ,1. 1690. The price of gold is £1,683. 08 an ounce, and the ftse 100 has closed for the day today at 7679 points. Rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news Financial Report. Report. Thank you polly. Great stuff. Now we are, of course, the peoples channel and in a few minutes ill find out what the good people of sheffield think about todays budget. Im martin about todays budget. Im Martin Daubney gb news, britains about todays budget. Im martin daubrchannel3 news, britains about todays budget. Im martin daubrchannel. News, britains brand new sundays from 6 pm. Brand new sundays from 6 pm. The neil oliver show. The neil oliver show. Its absolutely vital that people are given the opportunity to take part in the debate. To to take part in the debate. To say the things that matter to them, to be challenged. A country is only really a shared dream. As long as enough people have a shared idea of what it is, then that country exists. What gb news does is give voices somewhere they can be heard. Then youll have a show sundays from 6 pm. On. Gb news. Sundays from 6 pm. On. Gb news. Welcome back. 539 is the time youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news . Now weve got a real treat for you on gb news this evening, because after i knock off for the evening at six dewbs co will evening at six dewbs co will come live from the town of whitehaven at 6 00, and thats followed at 7 00 by the big man farage us nigel farage will also be broadcasting live from whitehaven in front of a live tv audience outside of the bubble, talking to real british people for their Immediate Reaction to this budget. Thats what the peoples channel is all about, and you will not want to miss both of those shows. Now, weve heard from tory, labour and lib dem mp throughout this show, but of course were not just talking to politicians today. We want to know how the budget will affect people in the real world. Well, our yorkshire and humber reporter anna riney has been getting reaction from the wonderful people of sheffield. Wonderful people of sheffield. We are here at renishaw miners club near sheffield and getting reaction to the budget announcement from the chancellor, but also marking the 40 years since the strikes began on march the 6th, 1984 and how the closures of the pits in communities like this one in South Yorkshire have had a lasting impact. Im joined now by pauline. She is a miners widow. Pauline what do you make to the budget and what do you think it will do to former mining communities like this one . Right. 40 years ago, miners came out on strike. They went back to work. Not because they broke the spirit. They never did. They broke them financially. And in 12 years this governments been in they brought this country to its knees and todays budget makes no difference because were this great power is great corruption. And this governments corrupt andifs and this governments corrupt and its doing nothing for this country. Nothing whatsoever. Thank you pauline, thank you for sharing. Were also joined by david. He was a miner for 31 years in South Yorkshire. David, what do you make to whats been said in the budget . Well, first of all, it was a rabble. I hope no children watching it because it did affect their behaviour, National Insurance, what mentioned is insurance, what is mentioned is dropping to £0. 02, 2. I hope he realises that the pensioners this year would have got the pension or wont be getting it, because hes raised the pension age. Theyll be paying for that £0. 02. So hes giving us nothing. Mentioned something £0. 02. So hes giving us nothinhouse � nentioned something £0. 02. So hes giving us nothinhouse building. I something £0. 02. So hes giving us nothinhouse building. Isomething £0. 02. So hes giving us nothinhouse building. I hope hing about house building. I hope hes going to build social housing, not private housing, houses to rent so that you know, theres something for people who cant afford that massive deposit. And that massive mortgage, other than that , he mortgage, other than that, he gave a lot of money away. So ideally its an election winning budget. And people are so short sighted in this country. £0. 02 in the pound off the National Insurance just might swing it for him. Would it persuade you to vote tory . He wouldnt. Nothing in the world would persuade me to vote tory. But, you know, never say neveh but, you know, never say never. But i think hell say never. Neveh thank you. David. Were also joined by chris. He was a miner for ten years in South Yorkshire. Chris, what do you make to the governments budget announcement and what do you think to the impact on communities like this one . Well, every time the conservatives are in charge , the conservatives are in charge, the impact always hits our communities , they never ever for communities, they never ever for the working man. So it was look after the rich and it always will be with the conservatives, i want you to a certain degree , i want you to a certain degree, but everything they say to me, is a load of lies. But everything they say to me, is a load of lies. What they is a load of lies. What they come out with, they promise. And come outwith, they promise. And all these promises for is when the election comes, they want in votes. Well, theyre not going votes. Well, theyre not going to get my vote, and they never will. I brought to the labour and ill stick with labour, conservatives for me, sorry. No way. Way. Thank you. Thank you for sharing, chris. And we are now joined by george. George, you were actually arrested and imprisoned as part of the action that you took in the miners strikes. Whats the Lasting Legacy here . And what do you make to the government . Would make to the government . Would the budget today make you want to vote conservative . Just total lies as usual. Its not make a difference to normal working person basically, so it just makes a difference what peoples already lowered did, should i say . I mean theyre not bothered about normal working person in the street. Theyre on another planet we theyre planet to what we are. Theyre not bothered about us. Theyre not bothered about us. Theyre not bothered about nurses, nhs, nothing. Dont make no changes. Nothing. Dont make no changes. And think labour or and do you think labour or another government could do any better . Another government could do any bet well, another government could do any betwell, think i could do well, i think i could do better, be honest. If its. Better, to be honest. If its. Its just. What can i say . The its just. What can i say . The things that this governments doing is, is not acceptable. Its not its not for working person. Lets just say that. Person. Lets just say that. Thank you. Thank you. I mean also peoples now theyre expecting people to work while theyre 70. Thats all right. If youre not if youre if youre in a job thats not manually hard or thats okay. But people know in but most people i know in knackered by the time to get to 50, let alone these silly ages to come into an hour. Thank you george. So thats the view here from renishaw miners welfare on the budget. And also 40 years on from the miners strikes , i find that miners strikes, i find that incredibly moving, my dad was down the pit 47 years, and anybody who watched the show regularly would know. Im incredibly of and to incredibly proud of that. And to see communities as, just see these communities as, just abandoned by all Political Parties since the era of the pit shutin parties since the era of the pit shut in and you can see the devastation there. David, chris, george and pauline miners widow feeling politically homeless , feeling politically homeless, feeling politically homeless, feeling exasperated, feeling left behind behind those industrial heartlands. Not just coal mining, of course, but steel mining in sheffield. Nothing ever replaced it. These towns became cities and towns as dumping grounds for social problems just left to fester. A lot of those mining communities, ihave lot of those mining communities, i have to say, when i campaigned in the 2019 general election, they did for the first time, vote conservative because they wanted to get brexit how wanted to get brexit done. How those people vote this time round will decide this general election, as it did in 2019. And will you people out there who voted for the conservatives in that election, stick by your guns . Will todays announcement from jeremy hunt be enough to convince you . It has to be said in the hundreds and hundreds of emails ive had in today, lets just say the reaction has been tepid. Not quite enough to convince all. We just had the point where the country is ready for change. Or can the conservatives still pull that rabbit out of a hat . Could there rabbit out of a hat . Could there be another financial moment before the general election . Every expert today saying it wont be may now its more likely going to be later in the yeah likely going to be later in the year. Could a big firework or income tax cut, for example, be enough to tempt you . Or are you just sick of it all . Now, a lot of feeling politically of people feeling politically homeless, but today was an attempt to steer the ship back onto common sense ground. Has it convinced you please get in touch gbviews gbnews. Com i just love that broadcast. I love what this channel stands for. Getting out there talking to ordinary people outside of the westminster bubble. Now 14 westminster bubble. Now 14 Million People have a mortgage, so im going to find out what was in todays budget for them. Im Martin Daubney on gb news, britains channel welcome back. Its 549. Were on the final furlong. But youre still watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news. Now. More than 14 Million People in the uk have mortgages and im one of them, no doubt. Maybe you are too. But with households across the country struggling with soaring Interest Rates, First Time Buyers are struggling and struggling renters are expecting much more from todays announcements. But for much more from todays announcements. But for many, much more from todays announcements. But for many, the announcements. But for many, the spnng announcements. But for many, the spring was dropped in the budget for British Housing. Well, im joined now in the studio in westminster by mark bougard, whos the chief executive of the Family Building society. Welcome to the studio , mark. A lot of to the studio, mark. A lot of people were expecting big things today. Mark, on housing, we have a critical shortage of affordable housing, young people in particular, all the time getting contact with us, and they cannot even dream of getting on the property ladder. But there are scant crumbs of comfort today. There were three tiny, completely irrelevant measures that jeremy hunt announced. That jeremy hunt announced. Housing policy in this country is a complete shambles. Its one of the most important fundamental things to people. Every night when go to bed every night when you go to bed and morning when wake and every morning when you wake up, had 25 housing up, weve had 25 housing ministers the uk in the last ministers in the uk in the last 26 years, nine labour, 16 tory. So theyre both as bad as each other. It should be one of the great offices of state and we need a coherent housing policy, not tweaks on cgt. Policy, not tweaks on cgt. So whats the problem . Is it nimbyism . We hear a lot about soaring immigration, supply, demand issues as a consequence, soaring rents. How do we fix this . This . Its incompetent government and oversight of housing policy. So housing is touched by nine different departments. They often pulling completely Different Directions when they do good things. So one of the big successes of covid, there were two, the, Vaccination Programme and then the stamp duty holiday. So the stamp duty holiday materially increased liquidity in the housing market, which gets people using homes better, optimising homes. And it raised more money for the treasury. So what did they do. They stopped it. And it we just dont understand why people would do that. But then when you talk about the positive effects of lockdowns, weve had loads of emails today from people saying the effects is billions the negative effects is billions and billions and billions of pounds spent furlough and the pounds spent on furlough and the vaccines, and as a consequence, we now financially on our we are now financially on our knees. And now payback time. Yeah, thats absolutely right. And the countrys got poorer. It got poorer as poorer. It got poorer as a result of the financial crash in two thousand and seven. Got poorer result of covid and it got poorer as Energy Prices went up. But thats why when you have a success like the stamp duty holiday, which got people moving, you know, if theyre having a new family or moving for their job, you had this Great Success which rishi sunak introduced to generate more economic activity. It raised economic activity. It raised more money for the treasury than they lost through cutting stamp duty. They stopped it and now theyre tweaking cgt. It just theyre tweaking cgt. It just doesnt make sense. So even when you have a success, you walk away from it and you know, is there any way out of this or do you think, i mean, we hear about more social housing is required, but weve heard it over and over and over since the 80s. Thats what you need. A housing with housing minister with real stature, there stature, whos there for a period, and you need a body to sit over and watch housing policy. Theres a climate policy. So theres a Climate Committee watches over committee now which watches over that. The obr, which that. Theres the obr, which watches the finance. There watches over the finance. There has to a housing policy has to be a Housing Policy Committee that watches over this and judges their homework. Otherwise theyll just keep failing. Okay. Mark bodger, thank you very much for joining okay. Mark bodger, thank you very much forjoining us in the studio. I want to i want to finish todays show with a few emails. Been emails. If i could. Its been hundreds you hundreds and hundreds of you getting listen to getting in touch. Listen to this. Says this. If the this. Peter says this. If the following included following had been included in the budget then feel that it the budget, then i feel that it would moved the dial would have moved the dial for the tories hunt said all the tories if hunt had said all benefits to illegal benefits handouts to Illegal Migrants will save £14 billion, which in return would allow us to give everyone a tax cut and stop the pull factor for boats crossings. That would have got my vote. So who says this . Our pensions are rising and thats good. But my rent has gone up nearly £8 a week plus my council tax has gone through the roof, my water bill has risen, my rent at garage has gone up and my phone contract has gone up almost £5 a month. So the extra £5,059 a month increase has all been swallowed up. Youll have no effect on me. Brenda adds no effect on me. Brenda adds this, and the reason many pensioners will be angry about the burgess is when the pension is increased in april, theyll be dragged into paying tax, the dreaded fiscal drag. Of course, the chancellor should have increased the Tax Thresholds. Increased the Tax Thresholds. Hes actually making many, many pensioners worse off. And finally, weve got another one here. Im 75 and dependent on my state pension. This is from william. I have a good life. I have a car and i smoke a pipe. But the reason i have a good life is because i have. I have no debt, so ive done my bit. The country has let me down. Dont forget, weve got dewbs co coming up straight after this, live from whitehaven, and weve nigel farage 78, also weve got nigel farage 78, also live from whitehaven. Talk to live from whitehaven. Talk to real people. Thats what we do on this channel. But first its time for your latest Weather Forecast with Aidan Mcgivern john. A brighter outlook with boxt solar for sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello and welcome to the gb news Weather Forecast from the met office. Some western parts of the uk are being treated to warm spells of sunshine today. Cloudier further east and relatively chilly with a breeze from the north sea that is bringing some low cloud in because of this High Pressure to the east across eastern scotland and northeast england, along with drizzly rain, with some drizzly rain, particularly hills. Particularly over eastern hills. But further west weve got those sunny showers sunny spells. Although showers are up across cornwall are turning up across cornwall and cloud been hanging and cloud has been hanging around for western parts of northern ireland. Now that edges away clear spells away overnight. Clear spells here, spells for here, clear spells also for western wales and the western scotland, wales and the southwest where we do get the clear skies. Well, therell be a touch frost and there touch of frost here and there and some fog patches. And some freezing fog patches. But east the low cloud but further east the low cloud sticks around overnight and in fact will be bringing a lot fact it will be bringing a lot of mist and hill fog to northern parts of england and eastern scotland. We keep that going through the morning tomorrow, but then eventually it lifts and as the cloud lifts and as temperatures rise, there will be some developing, some sharp showers developing, particularly through particularly in an area through the midlands, wales, the midlands, east wales, perhaps southern parts of england through afternoon, england through the afternoon, warm in the south and southwest 12 to 14 celsius staying chilly along that north sea coast. Friday brings further cloud to eastern parts of the uk and some patchy cloud further west as well, but its a drier day on the whole , most places getting the whole, most places getting away without any rainfall on friday. The same cant be said for the weekend. Outbreaks of showery rain moved north across the country, although it stays mild the south. Mild in the south. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on im with you till 7 00 tonight. And you guessed it, theyll let me out and about again. We are live in whitehaven. Why we aint go . They love it, we love it. Go . They love it, we love it. Were here and were here till, well, till 8 00, actually, because farage is after me too. Were here for one reason. We want to get into the budget with you. There is so much to discuss. Well get it all. Discuss. Well get into it all. But before we do, lets cross live to Polly Middlehurst for tonights headlines. Tonights latest News Headlines. Michelle, thank you and good evening to you. Well, lets line evening to you. Well, lets line up for you then. The Spring Budget and what it means to you. The chancellor says it will let people keep as much of their own money as possible. Jeremy hunt said the governments fiscal performance means the economy is also expected to grow this year by 0. 8, giving the government enough headroom to cut National Insurance contributions from april the 6th. Employee, National Insurance will be cut by another toopi from