The last budget(potentially) before an election, is a make or break one for governments, and its clear that some will gain from child benefit increases and the reduction of National Insurance.

Its also clear that those on lower incomes , are not going to gain ,but potentially lose out.

Jeremy Hunt's budget highlights the crucial issue facing our economy, the cost of everyday living, but does little to address it. Since 2008 wages and economic growth in the UK have stagnated, while the prices for what we pay, public utilities(gas/electric), food . Add in the 40% rise in mortgages and rents since Truss brief period as PM( elected by Tory party), its clear smaller Nat Insurance bills (although welcome), won't change the greater scheme of things.

These higher costs, are driven, partly by an economic model that redistributes cash from households and small business, upwards to the private giants that control the provision of many of these assets.

Its clear when you listen to members of of the public interviewed regarding financial trajectory this country is taking, the grave concerns there are , not just for everyday economics , but for the delivery of public services. This budget will benefit those who are better off and consequently we can expect longer term austerity, particularly in the context of savage cuts already biting into the economic plans of local authorities who have to deliver services , leave alone NHS provision!

In my case, I support my wife who suffers with a form of early onset dementia.

At the moment, we are managing fine , and independently, but what happens if she deteriorates?

What happens if I fall ill and cannot care  for her, what happens then ?

We have already experienced poor care through social services mismanagement.

It is of huge concern !

The Conservative part have been in power for 14 /pssibly15  years, by the time of the election

Last minute giveaways, are frankly insulting, when fundamental issues such as investment and growth management have been ignored for years. A stagnating economy cannot provide the security of jobs, living standards and the decency in public service provision we would like to see.

George Osborne famously used the political jibe " You fix the roof, while the suns shining", but the Tories seem to have smashed the windows and kicked the door in .

Anyone viewing the recent antics of Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, with naked ambitions to become next Tory leader. She plumbed despicable depths when she wrote in the Daily Telegraph "Truth is that the Islamists, extremists, and antisemites are in charge now. They have bullied the Labour party, bullied our institutions, and now they have bullied our country into submission"

This is the woman, that Sunak himself appointed as Home secretary, almost like putting a fox in charge of the hen house!

Then we have the maniac and former PM Truss, who not content with destroying the British economy,

travels to the United States, peddles conspiracy theories about her downfall, blaming "the deep state". Less hilariously, she sat silently beside Steve Bannon, as Trump's former henchman lavished the label "hero", on Tommy Robinson, the founder of the far right English defence league.

You may say that no one should pay heed to the antics of the ridiculous Ms Truss, a harlot who's shelf life at Downing st, was beaten by a supermarket lettuce. Yet, she was elected leader of the Conservative party and she was prime minister of this country not long ago.

We can also add the reliably repugnant Lee Anderson, Tory dep party Chairman appointed by Sunak

Anderson's latest outrage when he made the grotesque claims that "Islamists" have "got control of  London" and its mayor. "He's given the capital away to his mates" Sadiq Kahn rightly responded by saying that this was "pouring on the fire of anti Muslim hatred"

Only after decent and fair minded Tories like baroness Warsi and former senior tory minister Sajid  Javid spoke up in horror , did Downing st respond, eventually suspending Anderson, who still receives the backing of many tory MP's and activists.

Finally, we another specimen in Paul Scully, a former minister for London, who asserted that parts of the capitol and Birmingham , with large Muslim populations, are "no go areas" !

Keeping the flag flying for civilised Conservatism, Andy Street, the Tory mayor of West Midlands,, slapped down this "nonsense", and Scully tried to take back what he had said !

At the end of the day ,the person at the centre of all this is the prime minister himself.

The Tory party hard "tax cutting" hard right is the mob he feels most menaced by and that he has been flabby, about policing extremism within his own ranks.

He has not repudiated Truss for her "love ins" with repugnant Trumpites.

He sacked Braverman,as home secretary, for and incendiary provocation about "hate marches, "last Nov, but she was only in that profile-enhancing post, because he had struck a Faustian bargain with her, when he thought he needed Hard Right support to secure the premiership !

He handed a louder mic to Lee Anderson, by promoting him to Tory dep Chair, a role he exploited to platform his noxious prejudices, until he quit over Rwanda.

Only the extremists will disagree with the prime minister when he says we should not allow them to hijack our politics. More's the pity that he has too often behaved like a hostage of the hate mongers within his own party.

At the end of the day no last minute tax cuts and token gestures like the abolishing 'non dom' status(why wasn't it done years ago) can paper over the gaping cracks of a festering clapped out Government, with little idea on forward thinking, morally bankrupt , led by man so weak that the plight of the country perpetually looks like one step forward, two steps back  !

Cannot disagree with your summation - generally a non descript budget from a non descript chancellor who realises the game is up. Of course one of the fairest means of giving people more spending power is increasing the basic tax free threshold but that has remained stagnant for some years.

I am amazed that politicians have not gone after the energy companies who continue to post huge profit increases all in the name of Ukraine. It defies belief that British citizens are being fleeced in this way. Surely it is pretty simple mathematics - if your costs have increased sharply then your selling price increase should only be allowed to compensate not increase your profits. Government control needs to be asserted quickly on basic items like energy.

Will Labour do any differently - now therein lies the million dollar question. 

Firstly the point GPR make about windfall taxes on energy companies  is 1000% correct. Bills will come down later this year , but companies are notoriously slow to reduce prices and lightening quick to put them up. our whole energy system is fragmented and broken, policed by a regulator with no teeth.

The other question is will Labour do better ? Well as RR says, they cannot do worse.

Unfortunately for them and the country, they are hemmed in by economic restrictions caused by 15 years of Tory misrule. No investment, no far reaching policies for growth, support for small business, allegedly the foundation of tory principles.

Rachel Reeves is a very straightforward pragmatic women, and there is a seismic change from the Corbyn era here. She know that Labour will have to fix the broken economy before it can spend the huge amounts needed on social care , NHS  , schools etc. Borrowing is an option, but not one in the short term they want to go down, but may have to consider some short term fixes.

Not only that, but there are lessons to be learned from the Rochdale byelection. One is that when Labour fails to listen to its supporters, or blames them for defecting, it risks losing its strongholds.

another is the Tories being held responsible for the decay in urban Britain.

While local concerns figured ini George Galloways campaign, it was the geopolitics of the war in Gaza- and the inadequate responses from the two main parties- that helped the former Labour MP win the seat.

Mr Galloway, is living proof that there is power without office and is a harsh critic of Israel and a formidable campaigner.

But Labour payed in to the hands of  of this repugnant, strident, demagogic opportunist a man yet to openly condemn Hamas.

Labour needs to get its act together, and cannot rely on just being "not Tory", and put policies together which despite the economic restrictions I mentioned above, contrast with yesterdays Tory imaginary long term spending cuts and short term tax giveaways.

A more confident labour party would break with 14 years of wishful thinking and failure.

In a change election labour needs to earn votes by making the case for inspiring and transformational change. It may take more than parliament to do do , but people need faith and inspiration sadly lacking today !

Finally I am in complete agreement with RR with the tone he set in his post about tolerance, empathy, forgiveness, and understanding. The war in Gaza has seen a toxic polarisation of views combined with utterly despicable islamophobia and anti -Semitism.

In previous posts I have have highlighted that I have Jewish friends , who have been so for 20 years.

My friends live in both London and in Hebron in the south west bank, and have been harsh critics of Netanyahu, and his right wing coalition partners.

They know what has happened in the west bank has fuelled the policies and actions of terrorists like Hamas, and made it easier for them to  to recruit.

My friends echo the words RR has mentioned in his post , of tolerance what your religion and ethnic origin , and know that only a political settlement will be the answer long term in Palestine

They however , have been the target of Zionist radicals themselves, because they have spoken out

Where I disagree with RR is where he says it is right that Braverman and Anderson have highlighted the "Islamic threat". Most sensible people, including Tories (some), realise that this is stoking the fires of  rhetoric which clearly is Islamophobic and needs to be addressed as such.

They have spoken up to fuel the fire of their own repugnant agenda's a, and in Braverman's case, a probable leadership challenge when Sunak "falls on his sword" !

To say that Khan is under the control is laughable if it didn't come of the mouth of senior Tories at the heart of Government.

Regarding demonstrations, my friend, a teacher , of 40 years, sensible , never been on a demo on his life has been on several .he only did so because he was concerned about the plight of the children dying in Gaza.

He told me recently, that despite the presence of extremists , the majority of protesters were peaceful and law abiding ,like himself, despite what the daily mail or the Express says.

The nonsense peddled by Braverman, Anderson is pathetic lies .

I am not saying that people have not been targeted, whether they are Jewish or Muslim, and that includes MP's, (look what happened to Joe Cox). Shocking !

Whatever your beliefs do it peacefully , and respect others.

All my life I have used Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King as great examples of people who life was a struggle for basic fundamental human rights, but did so preaching non violence.

Its a lesson for us all.

Of course not. They’re all as inept as each other. They’re also got that trump card of inherited Tory problems. 

Whilst I agree with your comments about the way the NHS and in particular the roads are run by the labour WAG, the 20mph speed limit is a disaster (car crash of a policy), and the cutting back on all new road/motorway improvements (unless it is down the bay), we must remember the labour lead WAG receives its funding from a Tory government in Westminster, who have systematically destroyed the finances of the whole of the UK and public services.  They also introduced the Barnet formula, which is the formula used to decide how much money the devolved governments receive from the UK government.  This formula was criticised by the very person it was named after for unfairly disadvantaging the people of Wales over the other devolved nations.

Hopefully (but we will have to wait and see) a labour UK government will favour a labour lead WAG and we will see an increase in funding as a result.

The only issue with that is how the WAG decide to spend that money.

Its a disgrace how the town has been run into the ground. Id have to be stark raving mad to keep voting them back in, theyve had 100+ years and look at the state its in. Theyre become a petty small minded vindictive little party. All they care about is power theyve done nothing to lift Wales out of reative poverty

I mean seriously what is their masterplan? Have they actually got an economic strategy other than to rob working people to pay their inflated salaries and to kill off more small businesses and town centres? Wales is 3 times per head poorer than Ireland? £79k versus £25k what an utter disgrace of a party they are. 

They do NOT take from the rich and give to the poor, they keep the poor poor, they discourage and punish and destroy any dreams and ambition and they rob peter to pay paul. i.e the working working classes get robbed as do drivers to fund the tens of thousands who choose not to work. 

The fact they have no growth strategy and no support for sme's is the reason we create no wealth and why in the end we are always dirt poor. 

And yes before any says it the tories are evil bloodsuckers , I agree I would never vote for them either. Both main parties are an absolute disgrace 

It obviously will spark off paths well-trodden but the above indicate they had little interest in governing, reform or improving lives for the majority. The sole driving force of what they are now is reducing the size of the state, cutting public services and privatising anything they can, to the benefit of themselves and their funders. They are manifestly unfit to govern. All they have are stocking culture wars and divisions in society. Braverman, at the time home secretary, was guilty of hate speech. Ask yourselves just how exactly the UK has got to this and on who's watch. And then watch 10 million people vote for them even knowing all this. 

I am beyond sickened by them and arguments that "they're all as bad as each other" simply aren't true and play into the Conservative strategy. They are a rancid party that feeds off greed, selfishness and now outright racism and hatred. If the UK votes them in again it deserves everything it gets. 

I am not bashing the Tories for having a referendum. As I said I actually don't wish to go off on something where people simply will not agree. To make it clearer: the referendum had an option for which there was no plan. It is irresponsible of a government to put in place something that they have no idea, clue or power to oversee what the campaign offered. Which is exactly what happened, irrespective of being anti or pro Brexit and my own views on the decision. This is why I mention it will be their legacy: it has been chaos since 2016 and the UK has lost leadership and capable government due in large part to how Brexit has been overseen by the Conservative party.

Clearly he would have loved more "giveaways", in the form of tax cuts will continuing to cut public spending, there were radical threads, which could have long term consequences.

By 2027, because of cuts to National Insurance,(NI), and the decision to freeze income tax thresholds, for every £1 NI cut, £190 will be raised in taxes.

This "fiscal drag" will mean over three million  more higher -rate taxpayers and over four million more low earners paying tax. On current trends, a recipient of the full basic state pension, is also on course to pay tax, and perhaps fill, out a tax return in 2026/27.

The government is partly shifting the tax burden away from workers (some)towards all forms of income ,including savings and pensions

According to the independent Government economic Advisory body...The office For Budget Responsibility

(OBR)2% NI and last Novembers 2% cut in the Autumn statement do not offset the extra income tax being paid as a result of the tax thresholds being frozen.

But the fact that taxes on income overall are being raised means pensioners will see higher tax bills as their income increases (marginally).

Overall , this is not a tax cut with fiscal drag equating to the biggest single tax rise in 45 years.

Then in another reversal of previous Tory economic policy, where previously Sunak had been making the argument for raising spending on the NHS and social care, by increasing National Insurance to 13.25%. Policy now is to increase National Insurance to 8% and adult social care plan, is officially on ice !

Both major parties have been accused of a "conspiracy  of silence", by the influential think-tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies, about tough financial decisions required after the election,

It is clear however that Hunt and Sunak  have not only attempted to "slip one under the counter", with regard stealth taxes , which could have an effect on the elderly and vulnerable, but also appear to back tracking like Olympic sprinters in reverse , with regard to their commitments to the NHS and social care.

As we know Boris Johnson became the master of lies and deception "There were no parties  !"

The current incumbents of Downing street are catching up fast .

They should remember the immortal words of none other than Abraham Lincoln ,who once said

Unless of course you you are  G W Bush , who was once quoted as saying.. "You can fool some of the people all of the time , and those are the ones you want to concentrate on 

As you know Dr M L supported Brexit. I still support the basic premise but I have to say that if I had known beforehand how poorly prepared and how poorly managed the process would have been I would have voted differently.

The Conservative party are totally shot & full of hot air factions who think they have the power to rule. They are in for a huge shock. My biggest concern of course is that I remain unconvinced that we have something a lot better to replace them which is a dilemma. 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1860982/mark-drakeford-green-man-festival-cancelled-ospreys" rel="nofollow - https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1860982/mark-drakeford-green-man-festival-cancelled-ospreys

He wanted to use it for the green man festival thats 8 miles away? Not only did the green man organisers not want it , it cant be used anyway because it has 2 ospreys living there...the birds not the rugby players lol....vaughan gethin said hes happy for the opreys???? this is actual real news.

We now have a 10 million pound donor to a leading political party, I won't say which one but take a wild guess, exposed for outright racism. What is interesting is the mixed response to this from said party and reluctance to return the donation - £10 million buys you a LOT of racism it seems - and also the individual attempting to defend it as not being racist (you almost literally cannot get more racist). 

If I said what he had I would be sacked, it's as simple as that.

Along with numerous leading politicians from the same party, the message is very clear: they (as in politicians and their rich backers) do not adhere to the same rules as the rest of society. I've often wondered about the importance of personal character in politics - you could be an excellent politician but a total womaniser perhaps - but there must be some level of example-setting, ethics and trust in politicians or else we genuinely risk breakdowns in law and order. I obviously view the decline as being steep over the last 8 years and my strong opposition to the UK having Johnson as PM was not on his politics, as vague and flexible if you could even define them, but his dishonesty and chaotic style. This is why I found it so disheartening that a) the Tories made him leader and b) enough of the UK voted for him on the basis that he seemed fun. This seems to have paved the way for the illegality of his Government and blatant corruption and now outright racism within the same party.

I fully appreciate my partisan views on a certain party (which I believe are fully justified from actions from their members over the last 10 years or so) but I would like to state that I can fully respect someone with right-wing political views if they are honest and not peddling hate crimes constantly. It's kinda sad that even to suggest this seems like a radical concept.

I wish I'd never even taken an interest in politics because the more you learn about it, the more depressed you get. And the worst thing is nothing I think, say or do will make a blind bit of difference.

Thoughts (or rant) over. 

Very eloquently put Dr M & I fully agree. It does not make it any more palatable but we are not alone in the UK. Far too many politicians, all over Europe & the US still refuse to call what is happening in Gaza ethnic cleansing or genocide - take your pick. Having lived & worked many years ago under  pretty corrupt rule in Southern Africa I am totally stunned that it is politicians from that part of the World who are prepared to call it what it is to the shame of the so called first world countries. 

This will have some interesting implications. First, people are wondering about how vague it will be, to which Gove has answered that a "thoughtful" decision will be made. Guess who by? You got it: Gove himself. So he is essentially placing himself in charge of this definition. If you say something he doesn't like, prepare to be labelled an extremist and dealt with.

Second, I look at the actual current wording (which I realise is vague and will be developed):

An ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance eh?

I think Gove might be speaking to several of his colleagues in the near future then.

So no ban on receiving funding from such groups/people then ?

Good point Ap Sior!

Will the Tory Governnent ban itself, for accepting money from extremists like Hester,who they have allready themselves , deemed racist!

They condemn , but are implicated in the racist slur,  by keeping his money.

It's like accepting  stolen goods and then protesting innocence !

Don't forget,  until recently, they harboured Braverman and Anderson,  both extremists,  because their rhetoric fuels racist  tension, division and possibly  violence. 

So all in all , does that make the Tories "extremist .??

Senior Tories expressed their disgust at Andersons remarks with former Chancellor Sajid Javid branding then "a ridiculous thing to say"

The business minister Nus Ghani said " I have spoken to Lee Anderson. I have called out Islamic extremism and been attacked by the hard left, far right and Islamists. I for one do'nt think for a moment Sadiq khan is controlled by Islamists. To say so, is foolish and dangerous"

Tory peer Baroness Warsi branded Anderson a dangerous loose cannon,  and his views extremist"

Lord Barnwell, who was Theresa may's chief of staff , described Anderson's comments as "A despicable slur"

Neil Garett, the leader of the Conservatives at city hall said "he had no shortage of criticism of mayor Khan" but that "he is not a Islamist, he is not in the pocket of Islamists, and i completely disagree with anyone who says otherwise"

Andy street, Tory mayor of west midlands called Andersons remarks "a disgrace"!

 So even Tories above, are appalled at Anderson extremist comments, but RR of Scarlet fever, says its OK! ! 

Some on the far right may well act on what Anderson has said. Incitenment to hatred is an offence I believe. Consider the possible outcome of Anderson's comments.

Exactly...

Ridiculous comments from RR,who needs to take a hard look at himself

As for incitement to hatred - the far right do not really need any help from a muppet like Anderson to dislike muslims - they already make that abundantly clear. Surely the new ruling is designed to make large gatherings of people with extreme views less likely so that society in general can be safer. 

The unfortunate truth is that in a country with free speech people like Anderson, whether in the public eye or not, are free to think & say whatever they like unless, of course, they cross the line & suggests something illegal. Those of you who are not comfortable with that you have my sympathy but that is well & truly dissipated because the alternative - like a free election currently going on in Russia is far worse. 

Sunak eventually confessed to Heater’s remarks being racist, but refused to be drawn as to whether he would hand the original donation back, he’s now going to come under even more scrutiny should these further donations be proven to be correct.

It just shows how complicit the party are in the whole debacle when the post office minister (Kevin hoylake), who did say that the comments were racist, stated in the same sentence that he would happily accept more funding from the Hester.

So as it stands, you can be a racist, incite hatred, accuse people of being under the control of islamists if you are either a Tory MP or donate to the Tory party, but you would be seen as a terrorist or being part of a terrorist organisation if your not a Tory MP or Tory party donor.

What a wonderful democracy we live in.

People have a right to protest as a means of expressing their views. I see nothing wrong in that. What I don't condone is violence from either side. 

What Hamas did on 7th October was unforgivable, but the Israelis have gone too far, and both sides should negotiate a ceasefire.

I noticed on this forum criticism of environmental protestors (they were very selfish, apparently) yet no comment on the farmers. Same for Tory MPs: very aggressive criticism towards environmental protests yet Sunak himself was posing for photos with the farmers.

This is what undermines them: not necessarily what they are doing, as I think evidently there's a good justification for stopping violet protest and hate-speech, but why they are doing it and who it is aimed at. Plus the selective nature of their examples and target groups.

Gething was very wrong on this one. He should return the money immediately. I certainly won't support him. I was also very suspicious about the union votes.