英国财政大臣约翰·希利（John Healey）周三发布了其上任后的首份预算案，旨在通过缓解家庭能源账单、取消燃油税上调以及提高最低工资等措施来应对“困难时刻” 1。这一决策背景是全球局势动荡及国内通胀高企，其中上个月通胀率达到年内高点3.5%，市场预计未来12个月内可能加息4次至4.75% 1。债券市场亦出现波动，周二新五年期债券收益率自2008年以来首次超过5%，促使政府保持对财政规则的承诺以安抚市场 1。
在具体的税收与福利政策方面，拟议的向银行征税措施预计每年可能增收超过20亿英镑 1。政府同时宣布终结照护者津贴的“悬崖效应”，保护近百万人免于缴纳所得税，并以更慷慨的条件重启Help to Buy计划 1。此外，整体最低工资计划增加近4%，但将减缓21岁以下年轻人的涨幅 1。关于将国防支出提高到国民收入3%的目标，其具体实施时间表被推迟至明年的支出审查中确定 1。
反对党对这份针对“困难时刻”的预算案提出了批评。保守党影子财政首席秘书理查德·富勒（Richard Fuller）指责该预算表现为“无所作为”，而自由民主党议员黛西·库珀（Daisy Cooper）则警告政府不应采取“稳扎稳打”的态度 1。首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）在此预算发布背景下，面临平衡民生支持与市场稳定的挑战 1。
UK Chancellor John Healey has unveiled his first budget, positioning it as a response to the nation’s “difficult moment” amidst global instability and domestic pressure on household finances 1. The fiscal package aims to alleviate cost-of-living strains through measures such as reducing energy bills, scrapping planned fuel duty rises, and raising the minimum wage, while simultaneously reaffirming commitments to fiscal rules to stabilize market confidence 1.
The economic backdrop for this announcement is characterized by significant volatility, with inflation reaching an annual high of 3.5% last month 1. Financial markets are bracing for tighter monetary policy, anticipating four interest rate hikes within the next twelve months that would bring rates to 4.75%, while yields on new five-year bonds surpassed 5% on Tuesday for the first time since 2008 1. Despite these pressures, the government confirmed plans to impose taxes on banks, which could generate over £2 billion annually, and to restart the Help to Buy scheme on more generous terms 1. Key decisions regarding defense spending timelines have been deferred until next year’s spending review 1.
On the social front, the budget includes a nearly 4% increase in the minimum wage, though growth for workers under 21 will be moderated 1. Additional provisions include protecting nearly one million people from income tax liability and ending the "cliff edge" effect for carer’s allowance 1. While the government committed to raising defense spending to 3% of national income by 2030, the specific timeline for achieving this goal has been deferred until next year’s spending review 1.
Political reactions to the budget have been critical, reflecting deep divisions over the government's approach. Conservative Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Richard Fuller dismissed the plan as a budget of "inaction" 1. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Daisy Cooper warned against adopting a "steady-as-she-goes" attitude toward the current economic challenges 1.
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