WEDS PM: The Budget - latest

Apr 22 2009 By Andrew Jackson

Cigarettes and alcohol up by 2%, fuel duty up by 2p from later this year - but pensions going up.

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Here is a word cloud of today's budget speech - the bigger the word, the more times it was used.

Click on the images to enlarge them.

Compare this year's Budget with the one Gordon Brown delivered himself as Chancellor in 1999.

13.27pm reaction

The Government will go ahead with an increase in alcohol duty of 2%, Chancellor Alistair Darling announced in the Budget today.

The increase will anger the ailing beer and pub industry which had called on Mr Darling to scrap plans for the tax rise.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has said the increase would mean an extra 5p on the average pint of beer.

The UK pub industry is already under great pressure, with pubs closing at an average of 39 a week.

The 2% rise in alcohol duty will be implemented at midnight tonight.

Tobacco duty will also go up by 2%, starting at 6pm this evening.

Mr Darling said said these measures would raise more than £6 billion by 2012.BBPA and the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) ran a campaign to "Axe the Tax'', calling for Mr Darling to scrap the duty on beer, which was planned as a 2% rise above the rate of inflation over the next four years.

Reacting to the announcement today, Mike Benner, Camra chief executive, said: "It is disappointing that the Chancellor has ignored widespread public concern about the plight of Britain’s pubs and decided to press ahead with an increase which will result in yet more valued community pubs closing down.

"Well-run community pubs are already struggling as a result of last year’s 18% increase in beer duty and the recession.

"This further beer duty increase will push more valued pubs over the edge, resulting in job losses, reduced Government tax revenue and many more deprived of their favourite local pub.

"Well-run pubs provide an enjoyable and affordable night out in a safe and supervised environment and this duty increase will simply fuel irresponsible drinking of cheap discount alcohol in people’s homes, public parks and on the streets."

A BBPA spokesman said: "Today’s budget signs the death warrant for thousands of Britain’s pubs and for tens of thousands of British jobs.

"Pubs play a vital role in the economy and in local communities.

"Yet six are closing every day and more than 2,000 have gone in the last 12 months alone.

"The Chancellor’s unfair and unjustified announcement today condemns thousands more to shut for good.

"In imposing these additional beer taxes, the Government has wilfully ignored the views of the public, landlords, consumer groups, industry representatives and MPs from all parties who have been calling for action to save the British pub.

"At a time when the rest of the economy is getting a supporting hand, the beer and pub industry is being singled out for punitive action.

"Last year the Chancellor raised beer tax by an eye-watering 18%.

"Today’s rise is a further body blow. The result will be more pubs closing, more jobs being lost and more people consuming alcohol outside supervised, licensed premises."

He said campaigners would now be looking for public and industry support to force the Government to scrap the tax.

13.21pm

Pensioners’ Winter Fuel Allowance to be kept at higher level of £250 for over-60s and £400 for over-80s for another year.

13.20pm

Chancellor confirms commitment to increase the basic state pension by at least 2.5%, regardless of RPI.

13.16pm

Fuel duty will increase by 2p per litre in September and then by 1p a litre above indexation each April for the next four years. Alcohol duties will go up by 2% from midnight tonight. There will be an increase in tobacco duty of 2% from 6pm tonight. These measures will raise over £6 billion by 2012.