In pictures: Rishi Sunak leaves Downing Street ahead of PMQs
Rishi Sunak is making his way to Westminster ahead of today’s PMQs.
Sun campaign wins
The Budget is set to confirm a slate of victories for Sun campaigns.
As our political editor Harry Cole notes, we can expect to see wins on fuel duty, booze duty and the taxi tax.
Labour preparing its response
Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are preparing their response to Jeremy Hunt’s upcoming Spring Budget.
Taking to X, Sir Keir wrote: “Preparing our #Budget2024 response with Rachel.
“If Labour is privileged enough to deliver the next budget, my mission-driven government will make working people better off for the long term.”
Budget Day – key timings
Today’s action will properly kick off midday when Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer go head-to-head at PMQs.
Straight after, at 12.30pm, Jeremy Hunt will then swap places with the PM to deliver his Budget for around an hour.
Then, at around 1.30pm, Sir Keir will respond to the Budget on behalf of Labour.
Mr Hunt with then respond to Sir Keir, and remain in the Commons answering questions from MPs. At the same time, political journalists will get the chance to grill his spokespeople of the details.
At 2.30pm the Office for Budget Responsibility will deliver their verdict on the state of the nation’s finances with a briefing.
The debate in the Commons and Budget fallout will continue throughout the week.
Change to Holiday Lets expected
Jeremy Hunt is poised to abolish the preferential treatment for furnished holiday lets in this week’s Budget.
The Budget may include new controls designed to prevent local people from being priced out of the housing market.
Owners might be asked to apply to their local council for permission to let their home.
While not great for homeowners and investors, such a policy could be beneficial in helping first-time buyers get onto the housing ladder.
Hunt issues Labour warning
Mr Hunt will warn the public that a Labour government will increase borrowing to pay for public services — with the huge bill left outstanding for decades to come.
He will say: “An economy based on sound money does not pass on its bills to the next generation.”
Shadow Chancellor Ms Reeves claimed the Budget is the “final chapter” of fourteen years that has left the country worse off.
