Pippa crerar and daily mail columnist sarah vine. Hello and welcome. At the 2019 election, borisjohnson captured a slew of northern constituencies in england with the promise to level up the country. The government said it would rebalance the economy, share the prosperity of london, to address long Standing Underinvestment in the regions. And now we have the policy, a Bill Published Today by the Levelling Up Secretary michael gove which, finally, spells out how they aim to achieve it. This white paper lays out a long Term Economic and plan to make opportunity more equal. It shifts power and opportunity towards the north end midlands, scotland, wales and Northern Ireland. It guarantees increase investment in overlooked and undervalued communities. In research and development, in education and skills, and transport and broadband, in urban parks and decent homes, and grassroots ports and local culture and in fighting crime and tackling anti social behavior. It gives local communities the
Borisjohnson, largely absent up behind him, with the manager, iea boris johnson, largely absent from the table. Clearly not very happy and there is no love lost between the former leader, former Prime Minister and the outgoing First Minister. There was also another tricky exchange when Mark Drakeford discussed simon hart, the Welsh Secretary for the uk government throughout the pandemic. He was giving evidence on friday when she said she felt as though the Welsh Government was making decisions during the pandemicjust for the during the pandemic just for the sake during the pandemicjust for the sake of it, to be different to the uk government. Mark drakeford completely refuted that and noted simon hart did not give any evidence to back up that theory. Also Mark Drakeford said that simon hart got to the stage where he did not have much to do with the start of the pandemic, otherthan much to do with the start of the pandemic, other than essentially borrowing bothering Mark Drakeford about
British ice are tax Free Allowance to invest in uk listed companies. British isa tax Free Allowance. Moving on to the uk economy. The Office For Budget Responsibility predicts uk economy will grow by 0. 8 this year and 1. 9 next year. The uks Inflation Rate is also forecast to fall below 2 target this year. But the underlying debt, excluding Bank Of England debt, is forecast to be 91. 7 of gdp this year rising to 92. 8 next year. The government also kept a freeze on alcohol duty, which had been due to end in august, which will now continue until february 2025. There will be a new tax on vaping products to start in october 2026, and the existing tax on tobacco will increase. The chancellor says is in order to maintain the financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking. 0n transport and energy, the government has frozen the fuel duty again and kept the 5p cut in fuel duty on petrol and diesel, due to end later this month for another year. A windfall tax on the profits of energy firms,
Ministers questions. It is always a little different, the pmqs ahead of the budget. He has vacated the chair for the Deputy Speaker. She will be going through some of the notices ahead ofjeremy hunt, the chancellor, delivering his Budget Statement. He will take to his feet shortly and will probably speak for about an hour shortly and will probably speak for Aboutan Hourand shortly and will probably speak for about an hour and then it will be the turn of the leader of the opposition, keir starmer to respond. We will take both of those live and uninterrupted and we will then have reaction from the Chief Secretary to the treasury, laura trott, part of the treasury, laura trott, part of the Treasury Team and her shadow for labour. Here isjeremy hunt. Madam Deputy Speaker, as we mourn the loss of life in israel and gaza, the loss of life in israel and gaza, the Prime Minister reminded us of the Prime Minister reminded us of the need the Fight Extremism and heal divisions. I start today by r
Products to start in october 2026. And. The chancellor says its in order to maintain the financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking. Lets move on to the broader picture for the uk economy. In the office of budget and responsibility has predicted that. Remember, were in a technical recession at the moment. Lets move onto debt. Lots of figures in numbers but its important we take you through the main developments from todays budget. In a moment ill be discussing is in finer detail with my colleague. Ill also bejoined by our Economics Correspondent who is in the newsroom for us. First our Political Correspondent looks back at todays development here in West Minister. I5 at todays development here in West Minister. ,. ,. , minister. Is this an Election Winnin minister. Is this an Election Winning budget, minister. Is this an election | winning budget, chancellor . Minister. Is this an Election Winning budget, chancellor . As jeremy hunt pose for the last photo, dues before the budge