Budget Live.

UK's Osborne aims to keep austerity on track as EU referendum nears

Sugar tax anyone!

i wonder why not with pretty much immediate effect?
it's been talked about for long enough

am i correct in thinking there have been no benefit cuts?
find that hard to believe, but was not watching from the off

Yes I think so, but stand to be corrected.

Capital Gains Tax to be cut from 28% to 20%, and from 18% to 10% for basic-rate taxpayers.

... My right horrible friend seems to read Moneyam then -):

Also, Annual Isa limit to rise from £15,000 to £20,000.

Does that CGT affect 2nd properties? The 2nd property / rental market was due to be hit by the increase in stamp duty. Does the CGT threshold reduction mitigate that? If so, presumably the house builders will bounce. (EDIT: already up I see.)

Commercial stamp duty 0% rate on purchases up to £150,000, 2% on next £100,000 and 5% top rate above £250,000. New 2% rate for high-value leases with net present value above £5m. Effective from midnight.

didn't listen to much of the budget at all, but it seems there's a lot of help for small(er) businesses which has to be an excellent move on a number of fronts

Need to look at the detail first over W/E.