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 economy, create more jobs, more money for pubuc create more jobs, more money for Public Services like the nhs, one more. So what are the key elements of other parts of the Spring Budget . Well, the non dom tax status is to be scrapped and replaced by what the chancellor calls a modern residency system. The Great British pub will also get a boost from freeze on alcohol duty child benefit threshold goes up to £60,000 a yean threshold goes up to £60,000 a year, and the £0. 05 cut to fuel dufies year, and the £0. 05 cut to fuel duties locked in for another 12 months. Also in the budget, the vat registration threshold goes up from 85 to £90,000 a year. The pensions regulator will get new powers to make sure people get defined contributions and better value from their investments. And theres a new isa scheme with a £5,000 yearly allowance for investments in britain and the nhs. It systems will get a £35 million upgrade. So now the house of lords has once again moved to hold up the governments rwanda bill as the archbishop of canterbury, a leading critic of the legislation, was told to check his white privilege. Tonights his white privilege. Tonights ninth defeat follows previous setbacks. This week, setting the stage for an extended battle between the commons and the house of lords. Downing street says peers should work with mps to protect innocent lives after rishi sunak made stopping the boats a key pledge of his leadership group. Five people have been arrested for spraying red paint on a government building in scotland in a pro palestinian protest, the activists scaled Queen Elizabeth house in edinburgh, replacing the union flag with a palestinian one. The demonstrators say the uk government is complicit in the gaza conflict and call for a boycott of Companies Supporting israel. It follows calls from downing street for a sustained humanitarian pause to be agreed as quickly as possible to allow the safe release of israeli hostages and a significant increase in aid to gaza. Let me just bring you some breaking news regarding events in newham, in east londons happening tonight. We understand a great number of fire appliances. The official word at this stage from the london fire brigade is that there are 35 fire engines and 175 firefighters, all battling a blaze at a Police Station. Its in forest gate in the east of the city. Its just north of london city airport. If youre watching on tv, you can see the latest pictures coming to us from the scene of the blaze, where the roof of that Police Station is engulfed in flames and billowing heavy smoke. The London Fire Service brigade is urging residents to avoid the area and keep windows and doors shut. We know road closures are also in place. Were still awaiting confirmation on the cause of that fire. It is, of course, going to be investigated. Any more developments on that fire of the forest gate Police Station in east london, and we will bring them to you for the latest stories. Do sign up to gb news alerts, scan the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. Common alerts. Alerts. My test for todays budget was could it have been delivered by Rachel Reeves . Was there really going to be an important difference between what a brave, bold conservative chancellor would do and what a cautious, brownite socialist chancellor would do . And yes, there was one important difference. That was the cut in National Insurance, the cut in National Insurance, the 2 off reducing it to 8, and with the implication that it may be abolished altogether, which is a really very important implication and would be a fundamental change and improvement in our tax system. But overall, the budget was constrained by the way we now construct Economic Policy. We have deified the obr, the office of budget responsibility , which of budget responsibility, which is unfortunately useless. It gets all its forecasts wrong, as indeed the chancellor pointed out in his budget statement. And david davis, david davis, magisterially, explained in his speech on the budget later, and that means that youre making these decisions on forecasts that will turn out not to be true, and you end up making little decisions thinking the forecasts are right , when forecasts are right, when actually the little decisions dont really matter. So so im very much in favour of the vat threshold being increased so that Small Businesses have an opportunity to grow businesses up and down the country, turn away opportunities when it gets to february and march because they dont want to go over the vat threshold, taking it up to £90,000 was a good start. It £90,000 was a good start. It cost £150 million, but that out of a 1. 216 trillion budget expenditure budget is a rounding error. Its 0. 01. It doesnt matter and the idea that you can make these very precise forecasts and add up little bits here and little bits there, and then say we are meeting our rules actually doesnt work. It doesnt make any sense. You need to look at the big picture and try and get fundamental reform, taking into account where youre starting from and where youre starting from and where youre starting from and where youre starting from is that we are spending too much 44. 5 of gdp for 20 2324. The £1. 216 billion that i mentioned is more than the country can sensibly afford. And its why weve got taxation at the highest level since 1948. It isnt going to exceed it. So it isnt going to exceed it. So we wont be able to say its the highest taxation level in the post war period, but its not much below. And until we look at much below. And until we look at fundamental reform, what we do, nickel and diming wont make a lot of difference. What we need is Economic Growth , because if is Economic Growth, because if you can grow the pie and this is what nigel lawson did, if you can grow the pie, then when you have more money to spend on pubuc have more money to spend on Public Services and to apply where you want, but you can also reduce the tax burden. Now, the tax burden is best applied if its applied sensibly and uniformly , warmly. And what uniformly, warmly. And what i dont like about this budget is the endless tinkering, the little bits here and the little bit there. So yes, i was pleased bit there. So yes, i was pleased that Capital Gains tax on property from which i may marginally benefit myself, just so that, you know , went down and so that, you know, went down and that the treasury and the obr had agreed that there was a laffer effect and that it would raise more money, but why not take it down to 20 . So you only have one rate of cgt . Why carry on with this muddling the tourism tax that we still have would boost the economy if we got rid of it. The silliness over non doms non doms contribute to the economy. They contribute to the economy. They should be welcome when weve got the obr forecasting 350,000 immigrants coming in every year, many of whom make a negligible economic contribution, making it harder for non doms who in very small numbers make a very big contribution. Ian is really bad contribution. Ian is really bad policy and then weve got all these costs of net zero and the high cost of energy and entries in the government accounts that are bizarre. They have revenues of 11 billion for environmental charges and costs of 11 billion for environmental charges. What are doing . Why is the are we doing . Why is the government charging itself this sort what is the sort of money . What is the point . We need to have a pro growth Economic Policy that has simple, straightforward taxation that people can understand. Back to the lawson model. We need to have cheap model. We need to have cheap energy. We need to control government expenditure. We must government expenditure. We must get more productivity out of the pubuc get more productivity out of the public sector, which is lower now than it was pre the pandemic and has not increased since 1997. Until we get all this right, the budgets will essentially be tinkering. And yes, there was one thing that Rachel Reeves wouldnt have done, but only the one thing as even done, but only the one thing as ever. Let me know your thoughts. Male margaret gb news. Com and im now joined by Helen Dewdney , im now joined by Helen Dewdney, the consumer expert also known. Im a rather reticent about saying this as complaining cow. That sounds a bit rude. Helen i dont wish to offend you as you come on, but what do you think about the budget and how will it help consumers . Well, theres a little bit of good news for the consumers in that, you know, theres, no, no movement fuel oil and movement on fuel oil and alcohol. So that will be of good to news some. Theres a little bit in the National Insurance obviously coming down, but the tax bracket is not going up. So were not necessarily going to see that everybodys going to benefit from that. And i think a lot of consumers would have liked to have seen some some of those , tax rises and savings those, tax rises and savings going into the, local authorities. And would you , are you more and would you, are you more concerned about fiscal drag in the effect that thats having on individuals or giving more money to local authorities, which i certainly wouldnt do because i think local authorities are incompetent. Well, having worked in one for some years, years ago, there is certainly some incompetency in councils. I would certainly agree. However, we are also agree. However, we are also seeing a lot of people suffering. Were seeing the people that are not getting the social care. Were seeing education and Mental Health really , you know, right at right really, you know, right at right at the end there, were seeing children waiting for, you know, Mental Health diagnosis and help, you know, for months and months in some cases, years. So actually, i do believe that some of us would actually like to see some of those services receive some of those services receive some funding , that they can some funding, that they can support children and families and some children and families will be helped by the changes in on child benefit. I mean, its marginal, but that will help people between 50 and £60,000 of income. And £60,000 of income. Yeah. So we are seeing that that the 50 is going up and that the im glad to see that the chancellor is looking at consultation for this anomaly where a single parent household can be taxed far more on their childrens, on their child benefit than a than a household thats got two incomes coming in at 49. 99, each. So its good to see that that will happen. But i still think that, you know, at the other end where, you know, were seeing people with disabilities, people who are vulnerable, that they arent there. There was nothing in the budget for them , and nothing budget for them, and nothing much for people who have retired because they dont benefit from the National Insurance card. And also also. Yeah. And you could say another vulnerable group. I think its the its the vulnerable groups here that have really missed out in the budget. Thank very much, well, thank you very much, helen. Delighted now to be helen. Im delighted now to be joined by the economist and Senior Adviser and indeed founder economics, founder of capital economics, englands distinguished englands most distinguished economist, roger bootle. Roger, thank you for coming in. What do you think the chancellor should have done that would have had a bigger Economic Impact . Well, lets start by saying that he was hemmed in by his own fiscal rules. Now you criticise fiscal rules. Now you criticise the obr with some good reason , the obr with some good reason, but i think, you know, you can overdo that. I mean the tories, your party set up the obr. I thought it was a good idea at the time. So did i. And actually i still think to some extent its a good idea. And i think there in principle at the beginning to overspending beginning to stop overspending and labour and over borrowing by a labour government. Thought it was government. And i thought it was well by robert chote, who well run by robert chote, who i thought what he was doing. Thought knew what he was doing. I think its less well run now, but ill leave it there. Right, but given those all right, but given those constraints, there a constraints, there wasnt a great could whats great deal he could do. Whats really disappointing, think really disappointing, i think about government, the about this government, is the failure grips with the failure to get to grips with the fundamentals, and the fundamentals, and the fundamentals really concern Government Spending. You cannot Government Spending. You cannot get the tax burden substantially lower , which is what both you lower, which is what both you and i want, unless you control Government Spending. And that, im afraid, means cuts and were not having cuts, a great deal of fuss is being made about the growth of Government Spending being held to only 1 real. Thats quite low in relation to an economy thats growing fast, but we arent growing fast. So i think frankly, its missing the target now over and above that, given all those constraints, i agree with you. There were agree with you. There were a series of small things he could have done. Now, why increase the vat threshold for registration from 85 to 90,000 . What do we think thats going to do . Very, think thats going to do . Very, very little. I mean, if it doubled it, that would have made a huge difference. And john redwood was asking for it to go up to say, 150,000, which i was strongly supporting, which i was strongly supporting, which would really help Small Businesses. I agree. So all this was really very disappointing, i must say. I thought it was a remarkable theatrical performance from the chancellor. How hes got the brass neck to stand there and talk about lower taxes and reducing the debt burden. When of course, taxes as a share of gdp are rising and so is the debt burden. Its exactly the opposite of what he said. Opposite of what he said. Yes, indeed. And but he he came up with some reason as to how he could explain it away. There were some, figures on individual taxation that proved useful to him, but it seemed to me everything was being done by halves. The vat you mentioned, i agree, the reducing Capital Gains tax on, property that isnt your primary residence. And then this weird thing on stamp duty for if youre buying lots of houses, well, you just make it lots of individual transactions dont you . Yeah. I thought that was very strange. But the my greatest puzzle was over National Insurance, because i agree with you. I think is a good you. I think this is a good measure. I think he did the right thing to cut National Insurance rather than income tax, of course it does tax, although of course it does no and no favours to pensioners. And following autumns following on from last autumns reduction , i thought to myself reduction, i thought to myself gosh, i can now this far in begin to see a conservative vision which is for long time economists have talked about wanting to merge income tax and National Insurance, and it was going to be very difficult to do. Now, heres the way to do it by abolishing National Insurance. But he didnt mention that objective. That as an objective. Well, i mentioned in my no. Well, i mentioned in my monologue was the monologue that this was the vision because you mentioned it to we were chatting to me when we were chatting beforehand and between beforehand. And between us, weve up with the weve had to come up with the rather brilliant that rather brilliant vision that the chancellors wont chancellors got. But he wont tell wont tell us no, tell us. He wont tell us no, you mentioned taxes down. You mentioned to get taxes down. We to cut spending. Where we have to cut spending. Where would you cut spending . Well , i say cut would you cut spending . Well, i say cut spending. Theres another way. And the two are related. Weve got a very high rate of people not working in this country, many of them drawing benefits. So i think we have to tackle that first of all. And there was nothing in todays budget on that. By the way , and weve got to tackle it way, and weve got to tackle it through mixture. I think of through a mixture. I think of sticks carrots. Now, of sticks and carrots. Now, of course, if you get people off benefits into work , that gives benefits into work, that gives you sorts of benefits. It you two sorts of benefits. It reduces welfare bill. It reduces the welfare bill. It also generates taxes from people actually thats think actually working. Thats i think got at the centre of got to be at the centre of whats done. Now. Are whats done. Now. There are a few other areas think few other areas where i think i would will agree would not everyone will agree with but i find bizarre , with me, but i find it bizarre, given the state of affairs were in, that we have an overseas aid budget ring budget thats actually ring fenced, i wouldnt be fenced, protected, i wouldnt be going down that route at all. Very difficult, of course, because lots of people i know disagree me, but, well, disagree with me, but, well, i agree you. Agree with you. I dont believe in ring fencing expenditure. Im also very concerned that we are still fencing expenditure. Im also ve thisyncerned that we are still fencing expenditure. Im also ve this mindset that we are still fencing expenditure. Im also ve this mindset though are still fencing expenditure. Im also ve this mindset though the still in this mindset though the chancellor touched on a challenge to it that more spending automatically means Better Services, whereas actually the nhs has got a lot more money, but its using it less productively. Yes, these scandals in procurement expenditure in the ministry of defence go on and on and on. Yes. And that just spending more money is not the route to success. Spending it well is what matters. Well, i couldnt agree more. And when i heard the chancellor talk about these wonderful sounding projects that are sounding it projects that are going to revolutionise productivity in the nhs, i frankly , my heart sank. I mean, frankly, my heart sank. I mean, the of the current the mixture of the current unreformed nhs and it projects to me that just spells failure. Well, john redwood made an excellent speech following the budget, where he said productivity in the nhs is significant below where it was pre pandemic. I think, he said 6 to 7, when they didnt have this new it. So wouldnt it be easier to try and get back that six and 7 before you start spending money and that the spend to save in this instance, may come at a later stage, but actually you can get the savings without spending at this point. Well, i absolutely agree with that. We all know that there are bits of the nhs which are really wonderful. I benefited myself really wonderful. Theres also massive, massive inefficiency, and we cant simply go on pretending that this is the envy of the world, and we stick with the current structure. Now, i will understand the political constraints conservative constraints for a conservative government, it is government, but really it is deeply disappointing at this stage going on just stage to be going on just pounng stage to be going on just pouring money it pouring more money into it. It simply to be reformed. Simply has to be reformed. Well, i agree with that. And the only person whos saying it is streeting though when i is wes streeting though when i praise think its rather praise him, i think its rather embarrassing him. But embarrassing for him. But i think hes saying is very think what hes saying is very interesting. Anyway, thank you both. Coming up both. Helen and roger coming up next, budget have next, these budget changes have prompted speculation may prompted speculation about a may election, from election, admittedly mainly from the but will the the labour party. But will the changes enough to swing the changes be enough to swing the polls . The nhs need polls . Plus, does the nhs need even more of your money . Well. Welcome back. You wont be surprised to know weve been talking about the budget. And youve been sending in your mail. Mmogs. Robert says as a pensioner, there was nothing in the budget for me. Other increases, as council tax increases, such as council tax will will be worse off. Will mean i will be worse off. So why should vote so why should i vote conservative . Vote conservative . You should vote conservative . You should vote conservative because you are a good, loyal gentleman and you like to stick to the party. David, i dont want a tax cut. I want the money we already paid to be spent properly and without waste. Would be worth waste. That would be worth infinitely more than a cut. Infinitely more than a tax cut. Well, agree that. If infinitely more than a tax cut. We did agree that. If infinitely more than a tax cut. We did that,e that. If infinitely more than a tax cut. We did that, we that. If infinitely more than a tax cut. We did that, we could . If infinitely more than a tax cut. We did that, we could then if we did that, we could then afford cut. Todays budget afford a tax cut. Todays budget changes, including the 2 cut to National Insurance and the increased to the nhs, increased funding to the nhs, prompted speculation increased funding to the nhs, p|may ted speculation increased funding to the nhs, p|may election. Speculation increased funding to the nhs, p|may election. Mainly, tion a may election. Mainly, it has to said, the labour to be said, from the labour party. I happen to think its unlikely not clear unlikely because its not clear that budget will improve the that the budget will improve the tories election chances spectacularly. View, good spectacularly. In my view, good economics leads to good politics and that budget far works tend to lead to remarkably little difference. But theres no doubt that some of these measures were implemented with a general election in mind. Implemented with a general election in mind. Im implemented with a general election in mind. Im very election in mind. Im very pleased to be joined now by paul richards, former labour special adviser rowley adviser and Charlie Rowley former michael gove former adviser to michael gove and to theresa may thank you very much both for coming in. Its obviously in the labour Party Interest to say why didnt you go straight to an election . But looking at as a political but looking at it as a political specialist, do you think this is devised as an election budget or is more a steady as she goes budget, budget . Well, the logic for a may election is that things can only get worse, you know . So actually the idea of staunching the bleeding going early, maybe saving a few seats that might otherwise not be saved , you know, not not having saved, you know, not not having a summer of the boats arriving on the south coast of england and all the rest of it would be to go for may, there might be enoughin to go for may, there might be enough in the budget just to suggest that. Still, i think, suggest that. Still, i think, and you are, of course, right. Labouris and you are, of course, right. Labour is ramping up the rhetoric may election to rhetoric on a may election to put pressure on, but think put the pressure on, but i think it still remains a live option. Charlie, if you were still advising in government, would you advising this type you have been advising this type of budget . It trying to of a budget . Is it trying to give the impression of a competent government that knows what doesnt go what its doing and doesnt go for pyrotechnics . Or are there for pyrotechnics . Or are there things in it, like the two part in National Insurance that are meant we are meant to be saying, look, we are the party . I think the Election Party . I think thats right. I think the tupe cuts as well, with sort of freezing beer duty with freezing fuel duty , things that really fuel duty, things that really matter to people, particularly with of along with with cost of living along with the idea that inflation is coming down and obr coming down and the obr projections inflation projections that inflation will come to 2. Come down to that 2. Bank of england target rate. So it says that, you know, this is a conservative government that what it says its that is doing what it says its going to do, its also not going to do, but its also not going to do, but its also not going to do, but its also not going to take risks and therefore put economy at therefore put the economy at risk put peoples cost of risk and put peoples cost of living up. But so its steady as she now. There she goes for now. But there could to come in could be more things to come in the future. Charlie, on the fuel and but charlie, on the fuel and the beer all hes done is not put up. I mean, thats not put it up. I mean, thats not exactly vote winning strategy, exactly a vote winning strategy, is have it up would is it . To have put it up would have been a catastrophe not have been a catastrophe and not to up is just par for the to put up is just par for the course. So it wasnt really a giveaway was giveaway budget, was it . I think its just but i think its just sensible politics rationale sensible politics and rationale to you know, we have to say, look, you know, we have been to the room to been able to find the room to freeze things that is going to be helpful people. And be helpful to people. And coupled inflation coupled that with inflation coming something coming down, something that the government obviously, government is obviously, you know, top five know, its one of its top five priorities and it is achieving in that regard going to in that regard that is going to help the cost of living. Help with the cost of living. But pauls got a very good point, hasnt he, that, people have now for granted that have now taken for granted that the freeze will remain . The fuel freeze will remain . Its many years fuel its now many years since fuel went price escalator, went up on its price escalator, literally, isnt its still literally, isnt it . Its still in figures, but nobody in the abs figures, but nobody expected. The labour party, expected. And the labour party, if were government, if it were in government, wouldnt raise fuel duty either. Astonishing if they did. Yeah. Did. yeah. Yeah. So its not a sort of big positive. But mentioned big positive. But you mentioned inflation. Gets inflation. If inflation gets back on target, how quickly do you england you think the bank of england will Interest Rates. Will cut Interest Rates. Well, just on the fuel duty i mean sadiq khan thats slapped a tax on motorists through ulez in london. Not to london. So its hard not to suggest to suggest that they are going to do right across the do that right across the country, they could do country, which they could do safely annual fuel duty. Safely become annual fuel duty. Your petrol your fuel bills, your petrol bills could go up, so it makes an electric, an electric, an election distinguisher. An electric, an electric, an eleythatsistinguisher. An electric, an electric, an eleythats whats sher. Thats whats known as a freudian slip. Yes, yes, i think thats right. Because the choice of the election will obviously be between sir starmer as between sir keir starmer as prime rishi sunak, between sir keir starmer as prinyou rishi sunak, between sir keir starmer as prinyou either rishi sunak, between sir keir starmer as prinyou either wantshi sunak, between sir keir starmer as prinyou either want to sunak, between sir keir starmer as prinyou either want to seeiak, between sir keir starmer as prinyou either want to see the and you either want to see the policies conservative policies that conservative government implementing government is implementing versus london versus what perhaps a london labour doing, or what labour mayor is doing, or what is happening in wales for example. On a minute. Thats not hang on a minute. Thats not the right comparison. Mean, the right comparison. I mean, i get the politics of that, but thats were not to get thats were not going to get a ulez slapped on gloucestershire, are it. Are we . Lets face it. Well dont know. But. Well well we dont know. But. Well the, the only way, the only way to that youre not to guarantee that youre not going to get that by having going to get that is by having a conservative government, because its to do well there. Bristol is has done one. So which is right next door to gloucestershire. So you with a labour england mayor and labour west of england mayor and it a labour mayor of it had a labour mayor of bristol. Yes. They fell out bristol. Yes. And they fell out with so they abolished him. With him so they abolished him. But thats probably much too much i want to much local politics. I want to come Interest Rates come back to Interest Rates because you think interest because do you think Interest Rate they come, could rate cuts, if they come, could be fundamental to the Electoral Prospects of conservatives prospects of the conservatives and inflation within prospects of the conservatives and its inflation within prospects of the conservatives and its hard tion within prospects of the conservatives and its hard for| within prospects of the conservatives and its hard for the nithin target, its hard for the bank not to them, but it puts the not to do them, but it puts the bank right in the political firing doesnt it . Yes. Firing line, doesnt it . Yes. Cutting six months before cutting rates six months before an election. Does. And i think i am it does. And i think i am reminded wonderful reminded of that wonderful moment Ronald Reagan was moment when Ronald Reagan was debating moment when Ronald Reagan was debioflg moment when Ronald Reagan was debiof turned to in 19. He sort of turned to him in 19. He said, you know, do you feel better off . And i think no matter what the says and matter what the obr says and what the bank says, what even what the bank says, its people feeling is its how people are feeling is what the determinant of what will be the determinant of the election in of the the election in many of the seats. And dont feel seats. And people dont feel better off, and they look around at potholes the fact at the potholes and the fact they a dentist the they cant get a dentist and the trains work. And this trains dont work. And this general that nothing works general sense that nothing works and is broken, and everything is broken, i think more fundamental to think thats more fundamental to voting actual voting behaviour than actual forecasts. But there were some pretty good figures jeremy pretty good figures that jeremy hunt with the 800 jobs hunt came out with the 800 jobs every during period of every day during the period of majority conservative government. People have got jobs, working harder jobs, but theyre working harder and longer than ever for either flatline or even less wages, fewer, you know, amounts of money. And they some people are working 2 or 3 jobs. So thats not the issue. The issue is do you feel better off for working hard and people dont . Johnny, do you think this is going to be at the heart of election, i think there will certainly an element that. Certainly be an element of that. I mean, cost of living is i mean, the cost of living is something that really something that people really care top, care about. Thats the top, outcome focus group. Outcome in every focus group. But think its also about, you but i think its also about, you know, taxpayers money but i think its also about, you knoyits taxpayers money but i think its also about, you knoyits not taxpayers money but i think its also about, you knoyits not the taxpayers money but i think its also about, you knoyits not the governments 1ey go . Its not the governments money, taxpayers money. Money, its taxpayers money. And making have that making sure that you have that pubuc making sure that you have that public productivity Public ServiceProductivity Initiative chancellor initiative that the chancellor set to make sure that set out today to make sure that every government is every Government Department is spending its money wisely, is something public, something that the public, i think, really want. Think, will really want. Always say that, governments always say that, and i just wonder whether £450 a year whats that . Year on average. Whats that . Just under £40 a month makes sufficient difference to people for them to notice. Well, its it might not be, but thats why we may have another fiscal event in a few months time before an election to say because of the hard work in which the british economy has had to suffer and the hard work of uk taxpayers and workers, and what the government has done to get down and grow get inflation down and to grow the and, do all the the economy and, and do all the things its going do or says things its going to do or says its going to do. It been its going to do. It has been able to say you cant just keep having fiscal events. Is not you know, the economy is not fixed, all those people fixed, not all those people whose mortgages are about to go off cliff and have, you know, off a cliff and have, you know, £40 people are £40 extra a month, people are going having mortgages going to be having mortgages going to be having mortgages going hundreds going up hundreds and hundreds of pounds and i think of pounds a month. And i think thats what theyll feel. Thats fair point. And thats a fair point. I think thats why this was a prudent budget, because obviously, thought obviously, look, i thought liz had good policies in had a lot of good policies in her she a prime her when she was a Prime Minister and kwasi was the chancellor, went too far chancellor, but it went too far and too fast. It was the wrong time. That spooked the time. And that spooked the markets. One to markets. Thats one way to increase increase so increase that increase bill. So its budget was its making sure this budget was prudent sure its prudent enough to make sure its still she but still steady. As she goes. But when things are absolutely stable economy stable and when the economy people want steady she people do not want steady on she goes, change. Theyll people do not want steady on she go people want change. Thank you. Paul and charlie coming up, a new state of the nation segment be segment in which ill be speaking news viewers live speaking to gb news viewers live from and from across the country. And dont my pugnacious, dont forget my pugnacious, pugnacious panel is waiting in the be touching on well. Welcome back. Weve been talking about the politics of the budget. And paul says. Dear jacob, you should be chancellor of the exchequer. If you had been since 2010, this country would more would be wealthier, more efficient and happier. And, paul efficient and happier. And, paul, you very much. Im paul, thank you very much. Im very grateful for that, daryl says say you must improve says you say you must improve productivity, but your government down government has closed down our steelworks. So we have to buy steelworks. So we have to buy steelworks. So we have to buy steel from china. And were on the edge of a war with russia. Daryl, this green policy we have is madness. And its been closing our manufacturing closing down our manufacturing industry. Get industry. And we need to get away from its time for away from it. Now its time for away from it. Now its time for a state of the nation. A new state of the nation. Vox popuu a new state of the nation. Vox populi where we a new state of the nation. Vox populito where we a new state of the nation. Vox populito real where we a new state of the nation. Vox populito real people where we a new state of the nation. Vox populito real people ratherere we a new state of the nation. Vox populito real people rather thane speak to real people rather than the holograms that you see in the holograms that you see in the. About todays the studio. About todays budget. Of many problems budget. One of the many problems we fiscal policy we have with our fiscal policy is that so heavily governed is that its so heavily governed by rules that are by self imposed rules that are policed by the office for budget responsibility, something Patrick Minford pointed out last night. There is also much to be criticised about the complexity in our system. Well im in our tax system. Well im joined by state of the joined now by state of the nafion joined now by state of the nation viewer joiner nation viewer and joiner in carpentry Business OwnerPhilip Aldous portsmouth, philip, aldous from portsmouth, philip, what do you think of the budget . What would you have liked to have seen that you didnt see . And what you pleased about . And what are you pleased about . Free. Theres so much red tape and restriction if you let people do their own thing. Self determination business will grow. And as you know, if accessible creates cash, creates jobs, then creates tax. And that then goes back into the economy. Then the government can spend your taxes and build a better, better, better economy, better pubuc better, better economy, better Public Services , theres too Public Services, theres too many restrictions. I mean, theres too claustrophobic and youve got a carpentry and joinery business. What are the regulations . Is it the vat regulations that bother you . Is it rates . What are the things that hit you particularly i stay the particularly i stay under the vat regulation. Course youre youre work of course youre youre work in private homes. And once you put the 80 they go somewhere else. You just stops your business. Mean, business. You know what i mean, insurance goes so they go up insurance goes up, so they go up 5, it goes up 15. Its just add on. Small add ons become larger add ons. Obviously youve got the green issue. Timber. Timber has become very expensive because of the forestation, a lot of timber comes from north america, then the mdf is eight for sheets. Then prices are skyrocketed. Some have doubled skyrocketed. Some have doubled in the last two years. Say. Some say its due to the pandemic , i say its due to the pandemic, i think some of its profiteering, if you go to different outlets, they all seem to give the same price. Theres no competition anymore, thats a big problem. And but are you finding finding that supply chains have recovered post covid or are there any difficulties with those or any duties that youre having to pay . All supply chains are no, all supply chains are back up and running. You sometimes get a small delay where a shipment is. Obviously weve got problems out in the, in red sea. Now but, in the red sea. Now but, generally products in, generally most products are in, in, in stores, in warehouses, that problem has gone, its a, its a price increase , we know its a price increase, we know in april, apparently, i was told today. In april, apparently, i was told today. Today, but im today. Today, but im a conservative voter and i vote conservative voter and i vote conservative because you believe in business. Youd be entrepreneurship. You want people to go out and create businesses , and at the moment, businesses, and at the moment, it just you just its flatlining i all lyman all right, well, thats very important. Philip. Thank you for giving your view and explaining why you think that as a conservative, my next guest has pointed out that one of the huge costs the budget has to take into account is net zero spending. Just one example i mentioned yesterday. We are mentioned yesterday. We are planning to spend £20 billion on Carbon Capture technology , which Carbon Capture technology, which is still in its experimental stages, well , is still in its experimental stages, well, im very pleased to be joined by peter miller, a retired geologist from ascot, peter , thank you for joining me, peter, thank you for joining me, your geologist say you understand all about global warming. You have scientific expertise , and yet youre expertise, and yet youre concerned about the money thats being spent on green policies. Well, i think youll find that the most climate sceptical group of people in the world are geologists. Because for one reason, as you said, we understand. What about what understand. What about what happened at climate in the past . We are obsessed with Climate Change, but Climate Change has been something which has happened for the last four and a bit years. So if we bit billion years. So if we apply bit billion years. So if we apply it to whats happening to us today, we have in Insane Energy policy, the consumer has to fork up, i think, 14 to £15 billion this year. Thats over £500 per additional household. And what we should really be doing, if you wanted to make the economy grow and to make people happier and more, more likely to invest is we should lower energy pnces invest is we should Lower Energy Prices and a very simple way to do that would be for the government to take on board all these green taxes, £14 billion a year Lower Energy Prices would involve more expenditure by people in the economy. And more to the point, it would encourage companies to invest in new industry. And i think when we industry. And i think when we look at whats happened today in the budget, there was no concept of trying to encourage enterprise. There was no concept of trying to , introduce sensible of trying to, introduce sensible energy policies. It was just the same old, same old. But dont we need some new Green Technologies to reduce our emissions . Does that matter . Emissions . Does that matter . Well, you have to remember this Carbon Dioxide thing is grossly overstated. For example , grossly overstated. For example, in the uk, the amount of co2 we produce is less than what the increase is in china. Every yean increase is in china. Every year, and we produce less than 1 of the countrys sorry, the worlds co2. And so whatever we worlds co2. And so whatever we do in this country doesnt matter. One little brass farthing, it just doesnt matter. And yet were obsessed. Well, thank you to thank you very much, peter. As a geologist, you may be interested to know that William Smith , the father of geology, smith, the father of geology, started his work in high littleton in my constituency, a matter of fact, of which i am very proud, with me now to discuss this further is my pugnacious panel. The former editor of the sun, kelvin mackenzie, and the historian and broadcaster tessa dunlop, now , broadcaster tessa dunlop, now, tessa, you were making funny noises whilst peter was speaking. I couldnt help hearing. So i get the impression that you want lots of green charges on the economy to make us inefficient. Im very pro gb news being the channel, you the peoples channel, but you only talk to certain people. Youve to find one youve managed to find the one geologist total climate geologist whos a total climate denier who actually denies something was proven in the something that was proven in the 19th century that actually Carbon Dioxide heats up. If Carbon Dioxide heats up. If i pump a Carbon Dioxide into a room, it will naturally become a hotter room. Youre being a bit unfair on him, said. Unfair on him, he said. Were only responsible for 1 of so even we of the emissions, so even if we went well make a blind went to zero, well make a blind bit difference. Thats why bit of difference. Thats why should punish ourselves when should we punish ourselves when the world isnt following . Thats like. Its saying thats like. Its like saying something sensible, something perfectly sensible, isnt going to isnt it . No. Its like going to a knife crime conference and saying, guys have saying, look, those guys have big knives, i only big zombie knives, and i only kill a dagger, so going kill with a dagger, so im going to just in case he to keep mine out just in case he kills me with a knife. Kills me with a zombie knife. I mean, point is, we live in a mean, the point is, we live in a shared planet, but never mind. Indeed. Not wearing indeed. Well, im not wearing them because i want them just because i dont want to threaten way. To threaten you in any way. Jacob aslef had rather a good financial oh good. Financial day. Oh good. Also feel very well, i also feel very flattered. Kelvin, flattered. Unlike kelvin, whos a i was being a pensioner, i was being directly wooed jeremy hunt. Directly wooed by jeremy hunt. Im one of the 150 or so thousand families, who who are in the upper income bracket at that had our child benefit taken away from us and that has now been reinstated. Threshold used to cap out at 60,000. Its now gone up to 80,000. So midway through jeremy hunt, i silenced the television and i rang up the r. A. M. C. Hmrc and im going to be £170 richer a month. And i be £170 richer a month. And i have to say two things one, no, it wont make me vote for you. And two, do i look like i am the most needy cause in broken britain today . Britain today . But you got through to hmrc so public 30 minutes 40 minutes waiting. Do you know what . Do you know what . What a miserable life you lead. You get given 170 a month, you know and even then youre not happy with it. The truth about the matter is , if we if about the matter is, if we if 400 billion went out on covid, weve never weve never recovered from that 400 billion. If we handed out 400 billion today, one of the things that would definitely happen is that National Insurance could be could be got rid of immediately , could be got rid of immediately, and we could cut taxation by about 6 or £0. 07 fantastic. These things happen. This these things happen. This government is sitting there. The idea that starmer would have a better idea. The thing that makes me laugh is that all this is going to starmers account from the second that starmer takes over, the problems will look ten times worse because he starts handing out to the unions and he starts doing god knows what else to the country. So the socialist are done for. And actually the problem is that were going to end up were going to end up with about 200, 200 seat labour majority. See, 200 seat labour majority. See, i still have some hope that that will reduce slightly because i am absolutely sure and i agree with your dad that you had before. Hes going to have a massive giveaway in october and stamp duty and inheritance tax may disappear. All right, come on, ten, force your base. I dont give it all to tessa. Quite extraordinary. On a budget day. And this is Something Like the 14th budget that the conservatives have overseen, attacking overseen, that youre attacking keir the Labour Party Keir starmer, the labour party are not. Will he do . Are not. Will he do . Came to me with our economy caused by 400 billion of money going out the door. What is it that starmer is going to do thats going to transform your familys future . And mine . Well, mine has already been transformed today as weve ascertained, by £170. But the non dom idea attacking their own Prime Minister no less, was directly stolen from the labour party. Ridiculous idea. Ridiculous idea. Worst idea in the budget. Thank you to my panel. Oh, were being silenced. We are, because we are coming back. Weve got more to talk about because coming the because coming up, the chancellor has increased funding for service, for the National Health service, even was already even though it was already receiving funding. Was receiving record funding. Was that plus £1 that the right move . Plus £1 million muslim million for a muslim war memorial been promised memorial has been promised and well as well be discussing that as well. Very much. Well. Thank you very much. On Patrick Christys tonight, 9 to 11 pm, is pretty patel impressed by jeremy hunts budget . Ill say it. Budget . Ill say it. You know, weve ill say it. You know, weve got the highest tax burden in 70 years. That is a fact. Taxes are too high. Taxes have been going up. And too high. Taxes have been going up. And however , these people up. And however, these people should be incarcerated for the crimes that they committed and they should not be allowed back in community. Story. In the community. End of story. Miss my exclusive dont miss my exclusive interview with the former home secretary and is this las vegas dominatrix going to post nude pictures of prince harry on onlyfans . Dont miss Patrick Christys tonight, 9 to 11 pm. Well, thank you for staying with us. Weve been discussing all sorts of things. The abs, net zero tax simplification. And youve been sending in your views. Mark has been watching too much dads army. He views. Mark has been watching too much dads army. He says the too much dads army. He says the uk is doomed. There will be no growth in the uk as energy costs are ridiculously high. I agree the net zero madness will cripple any growth and future for the uk. Will i agree on the net zero madness . Paul it was the tories last chance to claw back support and theyve blown it. Sensible that you it. The sensible ideas that you mentioned your show would mentioned on your show would have difference. But have made a big difference. But they of touch they are so out of touch they dont i didnt write dont get it. I didnt write that myself. Todays budget include money for the include increased money for the National Health service in the form of £2. 5 billion to help cut waiting lists. The chancellor also announced a new productivity but there are productivity plan, but there are serious about whether serious questions about whether the problems of the nhs can be solved more money, as it solved with more money, as it was already at record funding pnor was already at record funding prior to these further increases. Well, my panel is still with me. Kelvin mackenzie and tessa dunlop, kelvin, if you give more money to the nhs, does it lead to a Better Service . Well not not so far. I mean, its had more money than any other significant industry. Almost in the world. I think it employs more people than the chinese army. And im than the chinese army. And im not saying they do a bad job, but it is a job where all you ever hear about is complaints about it. For ever hear about is complaints about it. For ordinary people trying to get a, to see your gp is a really cunning idea. Do you go and present yourself, or do you stay on the line or youre number 12 . And very cleverly, theyve started saying, well call you back without you losing your place in. This is the point of impact. And so people say, well, actually, what well, actually, do you know what the nhs isnt working. I dont go quite that far. But what i would like to know is what is it about our country that says we love a monopoly and we love a trade union that runs a monopoly . Oh yes, its the nhs. Monopoly . Oh yes, its the nhs. Why dont we start having health based insurance , which you can based insurance, which you can put against the american system . I dont want the american system. Well, i dont understand the australian system. You the australian system. Do you know , lets stick with the know, lets stick with the british system and lets follow through. We . Jeremy, through. Why should we . Jeremy, jeremy to be the jeremy hunt used to be the minister for health. He was when he promised he was going to computerise the system. That was the deal. So we wouldnt get. I was in local hospital just was in my local hospital just last an elderly woman from last week. An elderly woman from brixton. She was years old, brixton. She was 84 years old, in she had that many in pain. She had that many letters in her hand. The appointments that come through after arriving in our rubbish postal service, after the time when have the when shes meant to have the appointment, was appointment, when was computerisation happen . Computerisation meant to happen . Because it today. Jay gordon brown was going to do it. And what was it turned £10 billion was spent on a computer that failed or Computer System that failed or was it 18 billion so enormous . But weve now had our chancellor reintroduce the system already introduced. Chancellor reintroduce the sysall already introduced. Chancellor reintroduce the sysall right already introduced. Chancellor reintroduce the sysall right. Lready introduced. Chancellor reintroduce the sysall right. Butdy introduced. Chancellor reintroduce the sysall right. But weveoduced. Chancellor reintroduce the sysall right. But weve got ed. Chancellor reintroduce the sysall right. But weve got to. All right. But weve got to move on to our next subject. This is rapid fire this evening, because smaller because one of the smaller projects being included in todays budget was £1 million for memorial to for a muslim war memorial to honour who died in honour the muslims who died in the first second war the first and Second World War in of freedom and in the service of freedom and democracy. In light the democracy. So, in light of the latest about social latest concerns about social cohesion extremism, cohesion and extremism, is this an gesture to show an important gesture to show that muslims are an important part of our history . Well, my part of our history . Well, my panel are with me and fortunately tesla is a great expert on war memorials. Indeed. I think this fantastic i think this is fantastic because its a reminder that in the First World War and indeed the First World War and indeed the Second World War, the whole empire came together. It wasnt just blighty, it was the whole of the british empire. Of the british empire. It the whole of the it was the whole of the british empire. Worth british empire. Its worth remembering in 2002 had remembering that in 2002 we had the memorial which the memorial gates, which celebrated the role of commonwealth both celebrated the role of comnwars. Alth both celebrated the role of comnwars. Alth late both celebrated the role of comnwars. Alth late queen oth those wars. The late queen opened those gates. But if we want to say , well, that includes want to say, well, that includes everybody, you could then say, but hang on a minute, why is there a fantastic sikh soldier who stands proudly in leicester . A memorial to sikh contribution. Several gurkhas , the several to the gurkhas, the Memorial Garden for the holocaust thats been planned over £100 million pledged by the conservative government. Yet to be green lit for victoria tower gardens. And yet nothing for the 1. 5 million muslims who died. I would argue , though, at the would argue, though, at the moment most muslims are more concerned with our government failing to do enough about muslims dying today in gaza than those who yesterday. I those who died yesterday. I think honouring our fallen is the duty of the government. The government cant necessarily lot about necessarily do a lot about whats happening gaza, but whats happening in in gaza, but the british empire, and particularly people from particularly people coming from the indian subcontinent in both world wars, was really very remarkable. And perhaps remarkable. And perhaps something we havent talked about enough. Yes. Yeah. Look, i its an yes. Yeah. Look, i its an unfortunate time that were going to be celebrating the muslims who have fallen. After all, there will be people who could say , well, why dont we could say, well, why dont we have a memorial to the people who have been killed by muslims in our country over the last 20 years . For instance . So. So i am years . For instance . So. So i am not against this, but what i do worry about is why do we have to keep sectioning off the religious aspects of our society 7 religious aspects of our society . Why dont we just why dont we just include the muslims with the christians, with the sikhs . Why do we have to individualise them . There has been more bloodshed over religion than almost any any other particular aspect of any wars in the world. So i, i would, i would like to see that actually, if you had to actually ask me, i would prefer it didnt happen. And why arent we just why doesnt the muslim population, the christian population, the christian population, every population , population, every population, come together and say that memorial represents us all. But arent the muslims, particularly in the First World War, very remarkable . Who are fighting for us because they were against the were fighting against the ottoman were ottoman empire. They were fighting empire. Em e matter why empire. Matter why they it doesnt matter why they were us, they were were fighting for us, they were fighting as i keep fighting for us. And as i keep on it doesnt matter on saying, it doesnt matter what religion you are, lets have collective memorial. What religion you are, lets havyou collective memorial. What religion you are, lets havyou getactive memorial. What religion you are, lets havyou get thise memorial. What religion you are, lets havyou get this excitedyrial. What religion you are, lets havyou get this excited about you get this excited about the Holocaust Memorial centre thats been proposed, and that the conservative government are doing everything they can to facilitate, to put in completely the wrong place. Terrible place. I you, but theyre i agree with you, but theyre trying to get bulldozed. All trying to get bulldozed. All all planning just planning regulations. I just want got weve got to talk want weve got weve got to talk to patrick. So sorry to panel. We so sorry to my panel. We could go for much longer. Could go on for much longer. Patrick, what have got patrick, what have you got on your of this evening . Your bill of fare this evening . Priti patel tees well, Dame Priti Patel tees off on grooming off on the budget on grooming gangs on shamima begum. Im gangs and on shamima begum. Im talking bottomless talking about the Bottomless Pit that our anglophobia is that is our nhs. Anglophobia is a and it needs a massive problem and it needs addressing. And are we about to see a naked prince harry online . The mind boggles. I dont think we want to see that at all. But i fear, i fear that dame pretty. And i dont agree on shamima begum. And as i think pretty is one of the best politicians in the country, im always sorry when i dont agree with that will with her. Patrick. That will always a brilliant programme. Always be a brilliant programme. Im tomorrow at im going to be back tomorrow at eight. Have forgotten eight. I should have forgotten jacob rees mogg. This has been state nation and youre state of the nation and youre waiting weather waiting for the weather in somerset. Know somerset. But you know its going absolutely lovely, going to be absolutely lovely, the best anywhere, not just in england the id england but in the world. Id a brighter outlook with boxt solar , the sponsors of weather solar, the sponsors of weather on gb news. Hi there. Welcome to the latest gb news forecast from the met office. Yeah, there was some warm, sunny spells during wednesday, but for many over the next 24 hours it is going to be cloudy with an increased chance of showers developing through thursday. High thursday. Weve got High Pressure east thats pressure to the east thats bringing a lot of low cloud into eastern parts. We keep the clear spells overnight in the south and west, where we do have and the west, where we do have the clear therell be the clear spells. Therell be such and some fog such a frost and some fog patches forming, a few showers continuing across parts of cornwall as well. Otherwise many places will be dry and we start the day with a bit of a chill in the day with a bit of a chill in the air. Certainly where weve got those frost and fog pockets in the west, but it will soon warm up , the cloud will lift as warm up, the cloud will lift as well, and actually with the rising cloud, its going to be a brighter day across northeastern parts of the uk. Still a lot of cloud and that cloud bubbling up some sharp showers will develop, particularly through the midlands, east wales into later on parts of northern england. Away from the showers, though, plenty of dry and bright weather. The weather. The rest of the sunshine in the and sunshine in the west and southwest. Highs 12 or 13 southwest. Highs of 12 or 13 celsius, still a chill celsius, although still a chill in east, and its going to in the east, and its going to be increasingly breezy through thursday friday. That thursday and into friday. That breeze from will breeze coming from the east will make feel on the cold side, make it feel on the cold side, but increasingly sunny spells will in the south on will develop in the south on friday and its going to be largely dry. Same cant be said for the weekend. Increasingly spells of showery rain will move north across the country. Eight celsius in the north, 12 further south. Looks like things are heating up. Boxt boilers as sponsors of weather on gb news. Its 11 00. Youre with gb its11 00. Youre with gb news. Im Polly Middlehurst and our top story. The chancellor delivered his Spring Budget today with a mix of tax cuts and spending reforms. He cut personal taxes to their lowest level in nearly 50 years. And take took another £0. 02 in the pound off National Insurance. Pound off National Insurance. Opposition parties, however, said expected rises in council tax will wipe out any benefits for households. Also in the for households. Also in the spnng for households. Also in the Spring Budget, the non dom tax status will be scrapped, he said, and replaced by a modern residency system. The Great British pub will also get a boost from a freeze on alcohol duty. Also in the budget child benefit threshold, increasing to £60,000 a year and the £0. 05 cut to fuel duty is locked in for 12 months. The vat registration threshold goes up from 85 to £90,000 a year, while the pensions regulator will get new powers to make sure people with defined contributions are getting value from their investment. And theres a new isa scheme with £5,000 a year allowance for investments in britain , and nhs it systems will britain, and nhs it systems will get a £35 million upgrade. Now lord David Cameron has said tonight hes appalled to hear about the deaths of three sailors after what he called a reckless and indiscriminate Houthi Missile attack on a vessel in the red sea. Its understood three other crew members are missing and a number of others are seriously injured. Around 20 people were on board at the time of the attack. Its the first fatal attack since houthi militants who are backed by iran, started striking commercial shipping in the gulf of aden in the united states. Nikki haley has ended her long shot challenge against donald trump to become the republican candidate for