Published: 5 March 2024
A budget statement should be a delicate thing. A light pressure on the tiller. A delicate movement of the steering wheel. It should be relatively neutral.
As I say every time, it is in essence a political statement as much as an economic intervention: there is a limit to how much can be done and afforded. Hence an amount of ‘beige’ should be expected.
The risk though of me commenting on a political statement is that my comments are perceived as being political too, and so I risk offending half of the readers of this article. With that in mind I would like to apologise in advance to both of you and hope one of you enjoys this read.
As always, the Devil is always in the detail as they say, and so the little Devils in this case are the tax accountants who with fine toothcombs in hand can advise on the operative aspects behind the gloss of the announcement earlier in the day.
This can leave me with a dearth of what to say. I am sure you would not thank me for giving you a rehash of what the CoE (Chancellor of the Exchequer rather than Church of England) said, and the opinions of all and sundry on TV, Online and Wireless 4.
Some firms like to give a budget seminar, but that always seems for the benefit of the firm rather than those seeking knowledge about the budget. Our preference is therefore to present a brief view soon after, a tax card of course, and one to one advice for anyone who would like.
More comments to come after the event.