Campaigners have called on the government to deliver a “rapid and deep” improvement to the UK’s trade links with the EU after the Chancellor cited Brexit as a key factor impacting the decisions made in today’s Budget
Photo credit: Alamy/Uwe Deffner
Speaking in the House of Commons the Chancellor said the plans announced today were “about the previous fourteen years – the legacy of Brexit and the pandemic”.
Announcements in today’s Budget included a freeze on income tax threshold until 2031 – meaning more people will pay higher rates due to ‘fiscal drag’, new taxes on homes worth more thank £2million, and a new milage charge on electric cars.
But there was some good news as well. The Chancellor announced new funding for schools and the complete removal of the two child benefit caps. Training for apprentices will now be free for those under-25 at small and medium enterprises and new taxes will be introduced on gambling.
Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain which promotes closer UK-EU ties, said:
“We didn’t need a spoiler alert from the OBR to know that Brexit has cost Britain dearly and contributed significantly to the tough choices in today’s Budget.
“This Government made economic growth its primary mission and so now a rapid and deep improvement in the trading relationship with our closest and largest market in Europe is the best remaining lever available to the Chancellor to avoid failing on that objective.“