I think the budget is fair.

I agree with your comments regarding the budget, jingl, but not about the minimum price per unit of alcohol. By all means increase the price of extra-strong cider and lager, but IMO the price of wine and spirits is high enough already. Adding another 50p or £1 to a bottle is not going to stop people drinking too much at home.

Yes, of course - anyone with a reasonable income should pay their taxes. 50p or 45p - it doesn't matter - the majority of the wealthy avoid paying tax and as a percentage of their income, they pay a tiny percentage, not anything like the 20% that those lower down the income scale pay.

Corruption will always flourish in a society where wealth is power. If I could afford an accountant, I bet I would not have to pay more than a nominal amount of tax. Perhaps the government could redress this inequality by providing free accountants services to anyone who does not qualify to pay the higher tax level?

Unfortunately, as is the norm, the media have hyped up the effects of the budget on pensioners when, really, it is not too bad and we've been pushed in to believing that terrible deeds have been done.

In your opinion gangy; mine differs, not just because of what I read in the media, but because of what has led up to the need for this budget. If we do accept some of what the responsible press is saying, it seems there are government ministers and many MPs who are very unhappy with this budget and are saying to anyone who will leak it that the chancellor has scored a spectacular own goal, in the same way Gordon Brown did with his 10p tax rate which he ended up doing a u-turn about.

I don't think there will be a u-turn on this occasion. Some of the media seem to have calmed down a bit today, and there is a surprising amount of support for the budget (including the "granny tax") from various quarters, so we may get to hear a few more measured views in the coming weeks.

They're only thinking of it as an own goal because they're worried they might not get voted in again.

Actually, at the next election, I might break the habit of most of my voting life and vote for this lot.

Wotsamashedupjungl. Sorry so late but I absolutely agree with you. Funny how few others joined your debate!.

The problem is that everyone wants the government to deal with the dire financial mess we are in, but do not want it to hurt them. I am in absolute agreement with the reduction of the age allowance - and I am affected by it,

I also agree with the cut in the higher rate of tax. The majority of those earning £150,000 and over are actually employees in senior positions in LAs, self employed with their own businesses and middle managers in banks and big companies. They are paying tax through PAYE plus NICs, which means that over half their salaries already go in direct taxes. The number of high flyers on multi-million salaries and able to work and live overseas at the drop of a hat is actually very small indeed. However that doesnt mean they shoudlnt pay their whack.