Our reporter ben king has the details. When drinkers gather at londons King Charles Pub this evening, there will be a new tax regime in place. Changes announced in March Come Into Effect today taxing stronger drinks more and weaker drinks less. At the same time, Alcohol Duties rise with inflation up by io. I . The result a complex series of changes. 12 sparkling wine will be i9p cheaper as higher rates for fizz are abolished. A can of pre mixed gin and tonic will be 5p cheaper. But a bottle of 12 still wine will rise 44p. A bottle of vodka up 76p and a bottle of 20 port up £1. 30. So among drinkers, there will be some winners and losers. But the wine and spirits industry, which sees many of its products hit with higher taxes, says customers will see higher prices and less choice. We have the biggest duty increase in almost 50 years at the same time as we have inflation rife and a cost of living crisis. On top of that, we have Raw Materials like glass that are increasing in price expon
welcome to the programme. it was budget day here in britain today. a big set piece annual event in which the chancellor stairs into the crystal ball, and tries to predict the future and how best to steer the uk economy through it. the obstacles in his way are common to europe and the united states. high inflation, higher interest rates, and since the pandemic, an intractably acute labour shortage. this graph trackjob vacancies across europe since august 2022, historically high after the pandemic, but you will see the uk, the red line at the very top, is struggling more than most. with 1.1 million vacancies. if more people are employed, more people are paying tax. the good news for the chancellor is that the uk will swerve recession this year thanks to growth returning by the summer. but the economy will still contract by 0.2%. and any brighter news, is tempered by slower growth over the long term. mr hunt said the uk would only grow by 1.8% next year and byjust 2.5% in 2025
finding a way to trade with the uk internal market and also the european single market, border checks between england and scotland, as announced today by the first minister. massive gap in public finances that would have to be breached. that is a recipe for precisely the austerity she say she is worried about. let me say this. if we want economic stability, if scotland wants economic stability, to coin a phrase, we are stronger together. what will the impact of these measures be on the growth rate, and will we still avoid recession? i will we still avoid recession? i will publish the economic forecast from the obr when i make my statement in a fortnight s time. i think it s betterfor statement in a fortnight s time. i think it s better for me to wait until i hear that. but the proper answer to his question is that what we are seeking is long term, sustainable increase in the economic growth rates, and that is a central policy of the prime minister which has my wholehearted su
and i m chris rogers the other stories on bbc news. several regions of ukraine occupied by russia begin voting in so called referendums on whether to become part of russia. protests continue across iran after the death of a young woman detained by the morality police . her father says they lied about how she died. and some promising news. scientists say a new type of cancer therapy is looking hopeful. hello, i mjoanna gosling, in westminster ahead of the government s mini budget annoncement this morning. the chancellor kwasi kwarteng is expected to unveil tax cuts and increases in public spending as part of plans to boost economic growth. it s not a full budget that s due later this year but it still has some pretty sizeable changes.let s have a look at what could be announced. the chancellor will confirm it will let people keep more of their earnings by cutting national insurance contributions & go through with the plan to cut corporation tax. the government could als