Emergency Budget date set for 22 June

Does the budget really matter any more?

All it does is tinker here, tinker there. We know basically what's going up. There is, of course, the odd shock. I remember John Major bring in 10% tax band, which nobody expected.

I suppose it gives the newspapers more rubbish to speculate about.

What has changed ,though, is the intensity of experts etc. to try and co-erse government into not doing what they are predicting. VAT at 20% is a classic example.

IF (and that's a big one) he DOES come good on starting to fix the black hole AND most importantly, stops the trend of hostility between HMRC & the taxpayer/agents in time, UK might just manage to avoid a nasty cross between Greece and Thailand developing.

It's an awfully big test for him...

Nick, you missed out if we do well in the world cup (football).

as well as VAT on almost everything including food

we need a meagco turnover tax of 1% on companies with turnover over £100m

abolition of vat on garden seeds and forks - abolition of council tax on private land owners of allotment sites.

many hungry people about

will also save the nh a great deal - exercise.

there are plenty of us here as it is