Budget 2014 - watch with us!

[SarahMumsnet]

So... George Osborne will be standing up to deliver this year's Budget at 12.30pm, with announcements expected on property tax, stamp duty and the personal tax allowance. Here's what you were hoping (and dreading) would come up; time to find out whether George has been reading

We'll be watching the Budget over here and posting about the key announcements for those who are at work unable to view the live stream; come join us, and tell us how you think he's doing ...

Hmmm, cut in air taxes for some is somewhat anti-green.

"Britain has to up its game on exports" - doubling lending available to exporters and cutting rates on lending by a third.

Sounds like gas fields are struggling???? (Can that be inferred from tax receipts forecast being cut from offshore?)

Air passenger duty to be changed: "From next year, all long haul flights will carry the lower tax rate that you now pay to fly to the United States."

Extending help to buy scheme for the rest of the decade, and looking to build many new homes in the south east (inc garden city of 15,000 homes at Ebbsfleet) where the housing pressure is greatest.

I don't think 140 million is going to go very far for flood defences I'm afraid.

Did anybody catch what Osborne said about reduction in flight duty for long haul flights to Asia and the Caribbean. Wondering if this includes Africa as well?

Moving on to investing ... he'll set out plans for the projects that will be supported in the autumn. Today, he's approved a guarantee for the Mersey Bridge. Making an additional £140m pounds available for repairs to flood defences; £200m available, too, for road repairs.

Alan Turing institute sounds intriguing but without improving STEM education in primary and secondary schools we won't be recruiting from this country for it.

Extending grants for small businesses to support over 100,000+ apprenticeships

I think it does ItReally, but don't take that as gospel - could be wrong!

20% tax relief for regional theatre ...

News for small businesses: annual investment allowance to be extended to 2015, and doubled to £500k.

Not exactly a green budget so far is it??

"We need to cut our energy costs" says Osborne, and we'll do it by investing in new sources of energy inc nuclear, shale gas and renewables. £7bn package to cut energy bills for manufacturers.

Cut costs for manufacturers partly by capping carbon taxes. No extra investment in green technology.

Reiterating tax-free childcare pledge now ...

Great, lets encourage more gambling :-/

Planned fuel duty rises for September will now not take place, says Osborne.

Finally - the bingo duty announcement. it's going to be halved to 10%. You can all switch off now

Splendid, we can drink ourselves into oblivion (do like a nice pint of beer)

1p off beer, that'll save me ooh, a shiny 12 sided pound coin

Tobacco duty to rise by 2% and will continue to rise through the next parliament. Alcohol duties to rise with inflation, except for Scottish Whisky, on which duty will be frozen, and on cider, to help those in the west country hit by the floods. On beer, duty will be CUT by 1p. A penny off a pint, says Osborne in a naked attempt to write tomorrow's headlines for all the journalists watching ..

I'd like to see how the cut in income tax will translate into real terms for us.

I need to listen on the radio.
I CANNOT watch that man without wanting to slap him.
My hand twitches. The only other person I feel like this about is Cameron - so to see them together makes me feel all stabby and I cant concentrate on the actual message...