June 2010 United Kingdom budget

The June 2010 United Kingdom Budget, officially also known as Responsibility, freedom, fairness: a five-year plan to re-build the economy, was delivered by George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the House of Commons in his budget speech that commenced at 12.33pm on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 (just 90 days after the previous budget speech). It was the first budget of the Cameron government formed after the general election of May 2010. The government dubbed it an "emergency budget", and stated that its purpose was to reduce the national debt accumulated under the Labour government.

In his budget speech Osborne quoted data and forecasts made by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility that was formed by the Conservative government soon after they took up office.

The preceding budget of the Labour Party in March was only partly enacted due to the calling of the election.

Economy
Osborne predicted that the economy would grow by 1.2% in 2010, rising to 2.9% in 2013.

He said the country was set to miss the previous government's "golden rule" in the current cycle by £457bn.

The Chancellor said he expected consumer price inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index) to reach 2.3% in 2010, above the target of 2%.

He forecast that unemployment would peak at 8.4% in 2010, falling over each of the next four years.

Osborne said the state accounted for "almost half" of all national income, including the escalating cost of debt interest, which was "completely unsustainable".

Measures introduced
Osborne aimed to balance the structural current account deficit by 2015–16. The balance of tax rises to spending cuts in his budget was 23% to 77%.

The main rate of VAT will increase from 17.5% to 20% on 4 January 2011. This had been widely predicted before the Budget. No taxes will be imposed on items that are currently zero-rated (e.g. food, children's clothes).
 * Taxes

Corporation Tax will fall progressively in 2% increments for each of the next four years, from 28% to 20%. The small companies' tax rate will be cut from 21% to 20%.

There were no changes to duties on fuel (petrol and diesel), alcohol, and tobacco. Osborne cancelled the increase that Labour had planned on cider.

Taxes

 * Spending

Osborne announced further reductions in public expenditure to reach £17 billion by 2014/15. The Budget did not make any further reductions in overall capital expenditure, but projects will be prioritised and reassessed in the autumn spending review.

Public sector workers face a two-year pay freeze.

The government will accelerate the increase in state pension age to 66.

From 2011, state benefits other than the state pension and pension credit will be pegged to consumer prices rather than retail prices. The same will apply to public service pensions. These measures were expected to reduce public spending by over £6 billion p.a. within the five-year term of the Parliament.

The Child benefit weekly rate was lowered to £20 for eldest or only children and £13.50 for each additional child. Tax credits will provide an additional £150 a year for the poorest families, but with withdrawal rates increased by 6% to 45%, reducing tax credits at higher incomes.

Housing Benefit reforms will introduce a maximum payment of £400 per week. This would save £1.8bn p.a.

A new medical assessment for Disability Living Allowance will be introduced from 2013.

Heavy Industrial Plant Grants will rise from 10% to 11% of the purchase price for small business.

The Queen's Civil List payment remains frozen at £7.9 million.

Prior announcements and discussions
In the light of the change in ruling party, the recession, and the strain which the painful decisions would put on the Conservative government, this Budget generated a high degree of public interest and discussion in advance.

The government's top priority is to reduce government borrowing from its peacetime record highs. Prime Minister David Cameron said the previous Labour government had refused to publish its own projections showing the escalating cost of interest. He argued that taxes should be spent on public services rather than paying interest on the national debt.

The changes to the UK Budget were expected to focus on cuts to government spending rather than increases in taxation. The Chancellor stated early on that health and international aid expenditure would be protected. On 24 May, he then outlined £6.2 billion of spending cuts.

The Business Secretary and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Letwin, had announced that reducing tax avoidance is a priority of the new government.

Reactions after the Budget speech
Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman responded for the opposition, calling the speech a "Tory budget", and predicting that it would increase unemployment and stifle growth.

At the same time, former Bank of England rate setter David Blanchflower warned that the budget risked sending the UK into another recession, and that a "double-dip" is now the best case scenario.

The Minister for Women and Equalities, Theresa May, had written to the Chancellor emphasising the need to assess the effect of the budget on women, disabled people and ethnic minorities. In September 2010 the Fawcett Society sought a judicial review of the emergency budget for failing to demonstrate that such an assessment had been made. The High Court refused to grant permission for such a review in December 2010.

A report published in October 2010 by Research Councils UK voiced the opinion that cuts to research and development are likely to do immense damage to the UK economy. The report's author, Romesh Vaitilingam, stated that evidence suggests private sector spending and productivity is encouraged by public sector spending.