John Healey's Little Budget

Apart from stiffing recent graduates and dragging more people into higher tax bands, Martin Lewis was quite pleased with John Healey's budget statement. Which fits the label Aditya Chakrabortty applied to it: this was a budget to please everybody's favourite money expert. But what about the politics? This was far from the big offer Andy Burnham sold during his Labour leadership conference speech. Of the 10-year plan, there was nary a sign. Instead, this was a tinkerer's budget but one designed to land with a minimum of fuss. For example, £100 for everyone in council tax bands A to D to offset the projected hundred quid rise in the energy price cap will be appreciated. The scrapping of the standing charge and absorbing it into gas bills is redistributive in intent, and ticks the fairness box with those consuming the most expecting to pay more. Though pensioners dependent on heating and larger families might not be as sanguine. Likewise, taking tariffs off selected food products will…