All the main announcements as chancellor Jeremy Hunt reveals his autumn statement to MPs:
• He told the Commons in his opening remarks: “In the face of unprecedented global headwinds, families, pensioners, businesses, teachers, nurses and many others are worried about the future. So today we deliver a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and rebuild our economy… “Stability, growth and public services” are three priorities.
• Government and Bank of England to “work in lock-step” in battle against inflation. No change to Bank’s remit.
• Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts borrowing in this financial year of £177bn, £140bn in 2023/4.
OBR sees UK growth in 2022 of 4.2% but now in recession. Contraction of 1.4% in 2023.
OBR sees a rise in unemployment from 3.6% today to 4.9% in 2024.
OBR sees average inflation rate this year of 9.1% and 7.4% next year.
• Reduces the threshold at which the 45p rate becomes payable from £150,000 to £125,140.
• Maintains freeze on the income tax personal allowance, higher rate threshold, main national insurance thresholds and the inheritance tax thresholds for a further two years – to April 2028.
• Dividend allowance will be cut from £2,000 to £1,000 next year and then to £500 from April 2024.
• The Annual Exempt Amount for capital gains tax will be cut from £12,300 to £6,000 next year and then to £3,000 from April 2024.
• From April 2025, electric vehicles will no longer be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty.
• Stamp duty cuts announced in the mini-budget will remain in place but only until 31st March 2025.
• While the Employers National Insurance Contributions threshold is frozen until April 2028, the Employment Allowance will be retained at its new, higher level of £5,000 until March 2026.
• R&D tax relief for SMEs deduction rate cut to 86% and the credit rate to 10% but increase the rate of the separate R&D expenditure credit from 13% to 20%.
