Ahead of our live web debate at 12:15 today, political journalist Charlotte Henry takes us through her predictions for the Budget 2014
George Osborne will deliver his fifth budget today, and when he gets up in Parliament he will declare that the recovery is ongoing, but so are the tough times.
The Chancellor is also likely to announce measures that he hopes will boost housebuilding, childcare support for parents, and possibly a Lib Dem inspired increase in the level at which we start paying income tax to above £10,000.
On days like today Osborne also likes to show he is in tune with the tech community. We normally hear comments about helping startups, as well as extensions to rural and high-speed broadband.
Playing games?
In previous Budgets Osborne has announced schemes to support those investing in startups. The tech community will also be on the lookout for a tax break for the video games industry, something that the industry has long campaigned for in order to have some parity with competing countries around Europe.
This, though, is the first Budget Osborne will have delivered without his tech supporting former advisor Rohan Silva in Number 10, and we will have to see if that reduces the focus on tech and startups.
Keeping mum
Unlike previous Budgets, including the infamous ‘Omnishambles’ of 2012, the Treasury have been rather tightlipped about what is in Osborne’s red box today.
Rumours are beginning to seep out of Westminster that there will be a big surprise announcement come 12.30pm this afternoon. This is thought to be something that pleases Conservative MPs and supporters.
Could it be a shift at the level in which people pay the 40p higher rate of tax, or something less dramatic?