Darling prepares for first Budget

[Barman]

All the MPs will be crowded in there for the show – bars, restaurants and brothels throughout Westminster will be empty for a couple of hours… 

[Nick]

And then packed again later!!

[Barman]

And then packed again later!!

Indeed... 

[Snoopy]

Thinking of Nick without his TV .... he does at least have the inernet thingy as well as a radio. But does anyone else remember the News Cinemas? I'm sure there used to be one on Waterloo Station that later converted to showing cartoons, then was closed down. There must have been others that showed what were probably two day old newsreels on a loop every 15 minutes or so... But then we used to be able to send a postcard in the morning post to my Aunt on the other side of Southampton to say we would be coming to tea that afternoon and she would get the card well before we arrived. 

Yes I know I'm getting on and I realise that the world has changed but postcards in those days were almost as instant as an email and much nicer to receive.

[Bar Wench]

Thinking of Nick without his TV .... he does at least have the inernet thingy as well as a radio. But does anyone else remember the News Cinemas? I'm sure there used to be one on Waterloo Station that later converted to showing cartoons, then was closed down. There must have been others that showed what were probably two day old newsreels on a loop every 15 minutes or so... But then we used to be able to send a postcard in the morning post to my Aunt on the other side of Southampton to say we would be coming to tea that afternoon and she would get the card well before we arrived. 

Yes I know I'm getting on and I realise that the world has changed but postcards in those days were almost as instant as an email and much nicer to receive.

Bless. It is at times like this that I realise how old you are. 

[Nick]

Matthew Arnold recounts that he could send a postcard to his wife telling her he would be late home from work and her getting it delivered the same day.

Mind you, that was in 1851

Things have improved since then, obviously

[Snoopy]

Matthew Arnold recounts that he could send a postcard to his wife telling her he would be late home from work and her getting it delivered the same day.

Mind you, that was in 1851

Things have improved since then, obviously

Yep ..... I 'spect she's given up waiting for him now and had her tea, leaving his in the oven. 

[Darwins Selection]

Matthew Arnold recounts that he could send a postcard to his wife telling her he would be late home from work and her getting it delivered the same day.

Mind you, that was in 1851

Things have improved since then, obviously

Yep ..... I 'spect she's given up waiting for him now and had her tea, leaving his in the oven. 

[Nick]

As I recall, the Victorians had three mail deliveries a day.

(It's my specialist period you know)

[Nick]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7280000/newsid_7289200?redirect=7289258.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1

[chuntering again]

My bet is he'll do his usual trick of cribbing off George Osbourne and Vince Cable.

Extra duty on alcopops and strong cider..?

[Berek]

I switched off as soon as he stood up

[Bar Wench]

So now it is over can someone tell me how it will effect me personally. A non smoking light drinker with a car.

[chuntering again]

So now it is over can someone tell me how it will effect me personally. A non smoking light drinker with a car.

Yes, you will still be a boring git. 


# Fuel duty rise of 2p is postponed from April until October.  In other words 2p on fuel duty.

# Basic rate of income tax is confirmed as being cut from 22p to 20p from April.

# Public spending to grow by 2.2 per cent per year over the next 3 years.

# An extra £2bn for military. 

# Incapacity benefit claimants will be given work assessments from April 2010.

# Child benefit for first child rising from £11 to £20 from April 2009. 

# Cheaper tariff for energy customers on pre-pay meters.

# ISA limit confirmed as £3,600 per year from April.

# Small firms should win 30 per cent of public sector contracts.

# Corporation Tax to be cut from 30 per cent to 28 per cent in April.

# Extra £200m for schools to try to improve GCSE results. 

# Road pricing will be tested. 

# Sites of 70,000 new homes identified. 

# Plastic bags charges will be imposed in 2009 - unless supermarkets introduce it themselves 

# Cigarettes up 11p a packet 

# Beer up 4p a pint, wine 14p a bottle, spirits up 55p a bottle  and cider 3p a litre.

# Winter fuel allowance up from £200 to £250 for over-60s and £300 to £400 over-80s.

[Snoopy]

Darling was awful .... but to be fair was boxed in by all of Brown's previous. I thought Cameron was very good, particularly when you recall that he doesn't get sight of the budget unitl the Chancaellor speaks.
I scored it a win for Cameron in every round.

Wenchy you will find that food prices will increase (because the cost of fuel will rise and nothing is being done to reduce farming costs) The price of utilities (Gas/Leccy etc) will increase and your dreamt of mortgage will receed even further. You will need to have bigger pockets to carry home the shopping as there will be no carrier bags. Other than that I reckon things will stay much the same for you. Tat will continue to be available.