The People's Forum: What were the alternatives though?

Where does the money come from? If they'd pledged to raise a couple of pence on income tax they'd quite possibly have lost the election. If they did it anyway, they'd be getting it even more in the ear about breaking manifesto promises than they already did.

Whatever they had done this budget would've upset someone somewhere.

One thing though, there is a European-single-market-sized hole in the economy, if they don't start taking steps to rectify that in their next election campaign then they're beyond stupid, as are any of the parties, to be honest.

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they aren't raising taxes on employees - as they promised. The economy is completely on its arse and drowning in debt after the 14 years of the party of fiscal prudence. They have to raise the money from somewhere, a load more uncosted borrowing is out of the question and public services need investment after being ravaged by 14 years of Tory cuts.

Something has to give, somebody has to pay more. Of course you are going to upset some people who are going to say it's unfair but I'm in favour of those that can afford it paying more and would have liked to see the budget had going further in this regard.

I'm no fan of this version of Labour, but I've a damn sight more confidence in them running the country than the absolute shower of corrupt, inept, selfish shite that preceded them.

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Penalising hard working employers with the NI hike!?

And what makes me more I angry is I voted for the twats.

They haven’t got a clue.

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Over the past 14 years the public realm has been cut to the bone. Nothing really works or at least works well and key areas are in absolute crisis such as the prisons and social care. The last government cynically through money at unfunded tax cuts that they could have only funded by a new wave of austerity.

The budget is the first step to fixing that. Those who complain about raising cash through employers' NI, CGT and other measures that hit the better off need to specify where they think the money to invest in public services should have come from. Unless, of course, they think the status quo is acceptable.

For those who say it's not enough, well yes it isn't. But this was already a big tax-raising budget and anything more ambitious would have raised debt to unaffordable levels and spooked the bond markets (as per Liz Truss).

The trade-offs have risks and you can't please all the people all of the time, but this was as good a budget for ordinary people as circumstances allowed.

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