Agree. The bit that makes me giggle is the 'local' Lib Dem's largely disassociate themselves with the 'central' Lib Dem's. Bonkers to think that we can't see through that.

It seems that this ideological change comes at quite a cost to 'middle England' - Public sector net borrowing hitting £15.2bn in Feb, spiralling joblessness, youth unemployment crisis and a whole section of society trapped in low paid work. Not a great scorecard.

Well, over the years, I have seen many Budget speeches – and it’s always giving with one hand, taking away with the other.

The (world) economy runs the country, governments only raise taxes.

I watched the response from Ed Miliband and I thought it a bit childish. There are very rich and posh people in the Labour party as well. The best bit, I thought, was when he was making his point about the UK film industry and was mentioning Downton Abbey, and had to admit the existence of Wallace & Gromit! The Deputy Speaker was on his feet a lot, castigating Labour noise as well as Tory.

One quick point to remember is that the current top rate of tax is not 50%, it is in fact 60%, when the removal of allowances for higher earners is taken into account.

Lights will burn late tonight as the detail is examined and the number crunching continues.

No big surprises for me, most of it had already been leaked/briefed.

You're joking when you say you drive a pink car, right?

Driving to Telford xjay? Apart from the bridge which is still there.
Not nicked yet I think. There is a nice bit, though car windows were trashed.
There was a lot of crime there similar to Newbury's recent murders.
I did know the town some years ago. Close to an old school.
ce

What allowances for higher earners?

Sorry if I was not clear, I mean the removal of allowances that occur once certain salary levels are reached.

A boring drive only entertained by merry beverages and good company.

It's not the most nice of areas. Must admit. Like council houses, could be considered a bit scummy in places. I never saw the centre. Just the International Centre. Like the NEC just much nicer.
I forgot to lock my car in the excitement when we parked. No nothing missing after 5 hours. Although more luck than indicative of the quality of peope

Chill Royston. Next time a van comes round get yourself a 99, or even better, a 69

Sounds like a "Magnum" at 08.00
ce

Fuel prices around Newbury and Reading have already risen by between 3 and 6p. It's now £1.559 for a litre of premium diesel at BP.
I thought fuel prices weren't to rise until August? No doubt they will rise again then...£1.70 by the end of 2012 anyone?

Well Cameron/Clegg have beat Maggie Thatcher. She will be remembered for the poll tax but they will be go down in history for robbing pensioners and the death of the NHS. All within 24 hours too.

Hope all who voted Tory or Lib Dem are giving themselves a big pat on the back.

The budget is scr*wing the middle income folks and OAP's.

Am I gaining money in the personal tax threshold to £9,205? No, we will be out of pocket. If you take into consideration household income for child benefit to 80K, then you will be hitting the correct sector. A siingle Mom making 60K with two children will lose some 1300 to 1400 pounds per year, even after the rise to £9205. Why oh why don't they take household income in consideration?

As for the OAP's, giving them an extra 5 quid a week then raising their rent 8 quid a week isn't very helpful as they are doing to my in-laws.

Of course our MP is very happy about the budget, his family will continue to receive uncapped EU subsidies while seeing their personal tax decrease.

I thought we were, around £305 a year (collective ohh)
Don't get me wrong though I agree with what you're saying, like the Chuckle Brothers, to me to you, but I wondered about the tax thing as you see since I'm yet to get past colouring books I don't understand tax Just that I pay a lot...

Anyway, any possible increase in net income from a higher personal tax allowance would be negated by the massive increase in fuel duty..

They say they are giving you something with one hand, but the other hand has a knife in your back.

All I know is our total household income will decrease next year by some 1300 quid. We will be also paying more for fuel, which means inflation will rise as it will cost more to transport everything to the shops.

We need to protest and voice our opinions about fuel duty...it affects nearly everyone directly, and affects everyone indirectly.
Costs more for goods to be delivered to stores.

The fat man in the suit wants absolute maximum profits so instead of making £8m profit he wants to make £8.6m profit so those transport costs will be blasted onto the consumer.
No doubt trains and buses will go up, while it's my understand buses get tax free diesel it will no doubt be mentioned annnyway.

Where as the every day motorist cost will go up wildy...car tax continues to rise on the regular and fuel will be hitting £1.70 by the end of the year... I see the £2 litre by end of 2013.
The government needs to take strong, decisive action now; reduce fuel duty by a large amount, eg 20-30p per litre. When they say "oh we postponed a duty increase" or "cut the fuel duty by 3 p..." that makes absolutely no difference at all..where 20-30p would.
And it needs to be done now.

There is a petition site i can't remember; official government jobby. If 100,000 people sign the petition then it will be discussed in parliment. 'Tis what we need

'twas ever thus. does anyone really think that all the Millionaires in the Labour party really give a **** about everyone else ? problem with the Tories (notice large T and no "scum epithet") is that they just arn't right wing enough I.M.H.O.

That petition hit 141,862 'This e-petition has received the following response:
This e-petition has reached 100,000 signatures. The Government has notified the Backbench Business Committee in the House of Commons, who have scheduled a debate on the matter on 15 November'

That was before these new events though. It's an utter joke now!!!

Also I found a calculator so you can work out if you're going to be better off or not... extra £130 for me... yay.............
It's easy to use, took me 2 minutes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17442946

We will be 395 quid worse off.

Again, that is before inflation.

Agree. These extreme right wing policies benefit no one but the rich 1%. I would have thought that the majority of West Berkshire will be worse off.