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Brown set to Deliver 11th Budget |
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Written by Staff Writer
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Mar 20, 2007 at 09:56 PM |
Gordon Brown is preparing to deliver his 11th Budget, which is expected to be his last as chancellor.
Mr Brown, the favourite to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister this year, is expected to focus on
environmental measures and education.
Alongside the Budget, he will release the final Lyons report into local government funding in England.
On Tuesday, senior ministers rallied round Mr Brown, accused by a former colleague of "Stalinist
ruthlessness".
Mr Brown is expected to unveil plans for tax breaks for homes which use solar panels and wind turbines and
a hike in road tax for the worst "gas guzzlers".
Some reports suggest that the duty on the least fuel-efficient cars will double to about £400 a year.
BUDGET POSSIBILITIES:
Tax breaks for green homeowners
Stamp duty threshold raised
Inheritance tax tightened
Extra money to tackle child poverty
State pension increase (already announced)
ISAs to continue beyond 2010 (already announced)
Unregistered news has been told that Wednesday's measures would include a big boost to education spending,
changes to both the corporate and personal tax systems and a promise to be more efficient.
The Guardian reports that he will pledge an extra £1bn to boost the fight to reduce child poverty.
Business groups have urged Mr Brown not to introduce more company taxes. But consultants Ernst & Young
believe Gordon Brown is unlikely to introduce any business tax cuts, despite calls from groups such as the
CBI.
The chancellor may tighten the rules on inheritance tax and with property prices continuing to rise, he
may act on the issue of stamp duty - currently charged on properties priced above £125,000.
He has already doubled air passenger duty on flights, but was criticised for bringing it in on 1 February,
which annoyed some passengers who had booked flights before it was raised.
In last year's Budget Mr Brown promised to raise spending per head on state school children to levels
enjoyed by private school pupils.
Council tax
He has already pledged a £36bn boost for schools and colleges in the upcoming three-year spending review,
to be announced later this year, but may announce further details on Wednesday.
And he will announce the results of the Lyons review, set up in 2004, which is expected to recommend two
new council tax bands - at the top and bottom ends of the spectrum - but only when all homes have been
revalued.
Wednesday is expected to be the chancellor's final budget - if he takes over from Tony Blair, as expected,
within the next few months.
Mr Blair has said he will step down by September, and is expected to announce his resignation shortly
after the Scottish and Welsh elections on 3 May.
He's strong minded, he knows his own mind, he's dedicated. He knows what he wants.
Alan Johnson on Gordon Brown
Only two other candidates - Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - have declared their intention to stand
against Mr Brown, but they each need the signatures of 44 other Labour MPs to do so.
On Tuesday, Labour's ruling National Executive Committee confirmed that Mr Brown would not have to go
through an "affirmation ballot" if he was the only candidate.
But he would be expected to attend hustings around the UK, it said.
Meanwhile senior ministers and deputy leadership hopefuls rallied around Mr Brown on Tuesday, following
the publication of a Financial Times interview with the former head of the civil service.
Lord Turnbull, who was also Mr Brown's permanent secretary at the Treasury for four years, said of his
discussions with Cabinet colleagues: "His view is that it is just not worth it and 'they will get what I
decide'."
Education Secretary Alan Johnson was among those defending Mr Brown. He said: "Sure, he's strong minded,
he knows his own mind, he's dedicated. He knows what he wants.
"If you can't hack it with someone like that, if your arguments aren't good enough, then that's your
problem, not his."
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Last Updated ( Mar 26, 2007 at 01:40 PM )
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