Uk Budget Speech

[chiang mai]

With so many British expats in Thailand I thought it might be helpful for members to understand some of the reasons why they live in Thailand:

#Chancellor Alistair Darling stood up to deliver his Budget at 1230 GMT

# He said the core purpose of the Budget was for now and in the future. Every government had one aim - to maintain stability in the economic slowdown.

# Mr Darling said the government would do everything in its power to maintain stability and keep inflation low.

# He said turbulence in global financial markets, starting in the US, had spread across the world - and this poses a major risk to the world economy.

# The British economy will continue to grow, he said. "This Budget is about equipping Britain for the times ahead...about building a fairer society," he said.

# Mr Darling said Britain was more resilient and more prepared to deal with global shocks.

# The UK's GDP per head has gone from the lowest in the G7 in the 1990s to second highest now.

# The British economy grew by 3% last year, but will this year grow from 1.75-2.25%, Mr Darling said.

# "There will be no return to the inflation rates of the early 1990s," Mr Darling said.

# To provide certainty, the chancellor said he is writing to the governor of the Bank of England to keep a 2% target on inflation.

# Mr Darling said the government had taken the necessary action to meet its fiscal rules.

# For environmental reasons, fuel duty will rise by 0.5p per litre in real terms in 2010. He said he was postponing the 2p increase in fuel duty until October this year.

# Borrowing next year will rise to £43bn, some 2.9% of national income, Mr Darling said. It will fall to 1.3% by 2012/13.

# "It's vital that today our fiscal discipline ... that we borrow only to invest," the chancellor said.

# He said that by 2011, investment will have increased by 500%, trebling as a share of national income.

# Public spending in the coming three years will grow by 2.2% a year.

# Mr Darling said an extra £2bn will be spent on troops in the frontline, including £900m on military equipment.

# From April 2010, all long term recipients of incapacity benefit will attend work capacity programmes.

# Spending in government departments must be matched by reform, Mr Darling said.

# The focus for the next decade on the NHS will be creating "world class services".

# Mr Darling said child poverty must be eradicated in Britain.

# Effective April 2008, UK citizens residing in Thailand or Cambodia for more than 90 days each year will pay a differential cost of living tax equal to 180% of their local Community Charge.

# From October 2009, rules for housing and council tax benefit will mean families on benefit are better off in work. From April, 2009, child benefit will be increased to £20 a week.

# Five million customers on pre-paid meters should get a "better deal". Energy companies should spend £150m on social tariffs.

# The government will launch the "savings gateway" nationally with the first accounts available by 2010.

# Cash ISA limit confirmed as £3,600 a year from April, Mr Darling said.

# Corporation tax will fall from 38% to 28% by April this year, he said.

# Mr Darling said there will be simpler taxes for small companies.

# Funds available through the small firms loans guarantee will increase by 60% in the next year.

# There will be a capital fund of £12.5m to encourage more women entrepreneurs.

# Mr Darling said the government welcomed the contribution made by people from outside the UK. But non domiciled families should after seven years pay a "reasonable charge".

# There will be £200m extra for schools to raise GCSE results, the chancellor said. By 2011, every school "will be an improving school". There will be a £30m fund to improve science.

# Mr Darling said there will be £60m over three years for equipping people for the workplace.

# New measures at Heathrow and other airports, using biometric technology, to speed up the time it takes to get through security checks.

# Mr Darling said he is setting aside funding for testing proposals for road pricing.

# From this April, key workers such as teachers and nurses, will be able to borrow money from shared equity schemes. Stamp duty on shared ownership homes will not be required until people own 80% of their home.

# More people should have the chance to have a long term fixed mortgage, the chancellor said.

# He said a report showed that long term fixed rate mortgages can reduce the risks for first time buyers and can keep them on the housing ladder.

# Sites for 70,000 more houses have been identified, Mr Darling said.

# He said consideration was being given to raising targets for emissions cuts to 80% by 2050.

# Mr Darling said laws will be introduced by 2009 to charge for using plastic bags unless supermarkets do it themselves.

# £26m to help make homes greener.

# New non-domestic buildings to become zero-carbon from 2019.

# Asking the European Commission for tougher targets on car fuel emissions

# From 2009, major reform of the vehicle excise duty. For new cars from 2010, the lowest polluting cars will pay no road tax in the first year. Higher polluting cars will pay more.

# Cigarettes up 11p a packet.

# Beer up by 4p a pint, wine 14p a bottle, spirits 55p a bottle and cider 3p a litre by Sunday.

# Duties on alcohol will go up by 2% above inflation for next four years.

# Winter fuel allowance will go up from £200 to £250 for the over 60s and from £300 to £400 for the over 80s.

# The chancellor received a pat on the shoulder from Gordon Brown and cheers from Labour MPs as he sat down at 1321 GMT.

[Prakanong]

I saw it starting on BSkyB but turned over to watch American Idol on StarWorld then to AXN for Contender Asia

Edited March 12, 2008 by Prakanong

[nickynomates]

# Effective April 2008, UK citizens residing in Thailand or Cambodia for more than 90 days each year will pay a differential cost of living tax equal to 180% of their local Community Charge.

Here we go.

Anyone have any more information on this part.

[nickynomates]

Nice one Chang mai.

I just spent 30 mins reading the full version to be sure.

But you had me worried. You never know what is next.

[Andiamo]

# Effective April 2008, UK citizens residing in Thailand or Cambodia for more than 90 days each year will pay a differential cost of living tax equal to 180% of their local Community Charge.

Here we go.

Anyone have any more information on this part.

Is this for real????? Or are you having a laugh?

[taxexile]

Effective April 2008, UK citizens residing in Thailand or Cambodia for more than 90 days each year will pay a differential cost of living tax equal to 180% of their local Community Charge.

the good news is that there will be provisions to offset visa run expenses against this , so keep your receipts.

[Super Hans]

# Effective April 2008, UK citizens residing in Thailand or Cambodia for more than 90 days each year will pay a differential cost of living tax equal to 180% of their local Community Charge.

Here we go.

Anyone have any more information on this part.

That is absolutely scandalous. How on earth can the government tax you on where you choose to live?

[Andiamo]

Can the OP PLEASE clarify if this is a wind up?

[howtoescape]

That is absolutely scandalous. How on earth can the government tax you on where you choose to live?

Big Brother will not respond to such insolence.

[Maigo6]

No great surprises.

Captain Darling hits Smokers and Drinkers like every other Chancellor does and should.

[bulmercke]

# Effective April 2008, UK citizens residing in Thailand or Cambodia for more than 90 days each year will pay a differential cost of living tax equal to 180% of their local Community Charge.

Here we go.

Anyone have any more information on this part.

That is absolutely scandalous. How on earth can the government tax you on where you choose to live?

This is a wind up. I have just read the full transcript of the budget speech - and the only mention of foreigners was in relation to non-domiciled citizens in the UK having to pay a tax after seven years.

Absolutely no relevance to foreigners currently residing in Thailand and/or Cambodia.

Edited March 12, 2008 by bulmercke

[chiang mai]

I'm sorry, I was sure that was what he said, perhaps I misheard. Maybe it's just as well what with the new Thailand visa regulation that were just announced

[haybilly]

I'm sorry, I was sure that was what he said, perhaps I misheard. Maybe it's just as well what with the new Thailand visa regulation that were just announced

You owe me a coffee--I spat mine out when I read the above--you mischievous so and so!

[astral]

Sorry.

This whole post is suspect.

I can see no reference to expats living in Thailand or Cambodia,

therefore the thread is closed until clarification can be found.

PM me if you can find a link to this point.