Throughout the general election and various other news events, I have kept a note pad with the key issues at timed intervals, as I used to do as a journalist during a 'big story'. Normally these have been for my own consumption. Today I'm going to try this with the blog and will be focussing on issues to do with Higher Education.
1213 Budget Programme start on the BBC - predicting major cuts and probably VAT. Hints at where the cuts might be but BBC predicting generation shifting speech n the public finances.
1222 BBC's Nick Robinson says that the Lib Dems have gone thoroughly through each line of the budget to make sure it does not affect the young and the elderly - first example of the Lib Dem's softening the Tory's actions?
1230 HE has seen cuts in the number of undergrad places in the first £6bn cuts and the Uni Enterprise Fund in the next £2bn. What will we lose today?
1233 And of we go ... crossed fingers...
1234 3 mins of flannel to start though the BBC are saying VAT going up.
1243 Current deficit to be illiminated by 2015/16 ... only half a decade of suffering then. Still seems very wordy and little content.
1247 No Euro in this parliament as stated in the coalition agreement: the Lib Dem concessions will be elsewhere!
1249 £30bn reductions per year in public spending over next 5 years.
1252 Queen's budget sticks at £7.4m and look for other efficiencies. So Her Majesty keeps the same income - unlike her people who will get less.
1253 Public sector pay freeze for 2 years. Constraining public pay and pensions. Public sector has ben insulated from cuts which the private section has been through. The country was living beyond its means - though perhaps not the people it employs who just balanced the books.
1259 £250 increase for poorest public sector employees? £20 a month? Will it be noticed?
1303 Child Benefit frozen but a variety of other welfare benefits cut. Not quite sure on what happens to disability allowance but suspect it will be cut within those £11bn just announced.
1307 Variety of (small) changes to help business creation. Could universities link to Small and Medium Sized enterprises be continued? We'll see.
1310 So Banks to have to pay more. Is this retribution? Is this to kick a common enemy? Is it unwise without international agreement? Or good economics?
1313 Clegg keeps his rail link to Sheffield? At least someone will be moving faster!
1316 VAT TO INCREASE TO 20% FROM JANUARY 2011.
1322 We hardly noticed a 2.5% cut in VAT last year: will anyone notice a similar increase? As Cardiff Blogger points out Denmark & Finland are at 25%
1327 Tax Free Allowance up by £1000.
1328 Chancellor sits down after 55 minutes. Not as long but just as significant as many expected.
1330 Don't envy Harriet Harman ... will she be to come up with policy suggestions rather than empty attacks?
1337 Harman says budget attacks young & elderly: I think Lib Dems did good job of protecting them as best they could.
1339 Harman attacks coalition & Lib Dems rather than policy. Not what Clegg wanted. And shows no sustance from Labour.
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