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What the national newspapers think of Osborne's summer budget What the national newspapers think of Osborne's summer budget
(34 minutes later)
Budget good, budget bad? For national newspapers, it depends - wouldn’t you just know? - on their political standpoint.Budget good, budget bad? For national newspapers, it depends - wouldn’t you just know? - on their political standpoint.
A quick look at the critics first: A con trick, says the Daily Mirror. A “very Tory budget” that’s bad news for the most vulnerable in society, says the Independent. Savage cuts will greatly impoverish many low-paid workers, the disabled and children, says the Guardian.A quick look at the critics first: A con trick, says the Daily Mirror. A “very Tory budget” that’s bad news for the most vulnerable in society, says the Independent. Savage cuts will greatly impoverish many low-paid workers, the disabled and children, says the Guardian.
And now for the unalloyed joy: “Hooray! It’s pay rises all round” (Daily Express); “Fearless George slays the dragons” (Daily Mail); “The well fair state” (The Sun); “Now that works! George’s pay rise for all” (Daily Star); “Higher wages and welfare cuts in Britain’s new deal” (The Times); and “A bold, rewarding Budget that confirms the Tories as the workers’ party” (Daily Telegraph).And now for the unalloyed joy: “Hooray! It’s pay rises all round” (Daily Express); “Fearless George slays the dragons” (Daily Mail); “The well fair state” (The Sun); “Now that works! George’s pay rise for all” (Daily Star); “Higher wages and welfare cuts in Britain’s new deal” (The Times); and “A bold, rewarding Budget that confirms the Tories as the workers’ party” (Daily Telegraph).
Looking in more detail at the arguments of the papers that like the budget, there is unanimous praise for the chancellor, George Osborne.Looking in more detail at the arguments of the papers that like the budget, there is unanimous praise for the chancellor, George Osborne.
The Times believes his “budget was a political tour de force and economically essential... He managed to make a virtue of tough times... with a rousing statement of the best conservative values, chief among them collective ambition and individuals’ hunger for self-improvement”. It says:The Times believes his “budget was a political tour de force and economically essential... He managed to make a virtue of tough times... with a rousing statement of the best conservative values, chief among them collective ambition and individuals’ hunger for self-improvement”. It says:
“Disraeli would have been proud. Iain Duncan Smith was visibly ecstatic. Labour was all but lost for words”.“Disraeli would have been proud. Iain Duncan Smith was visibly ecstatic. Labour was all but lost for words”.
The Times is concerned that, despite the welfare cuts, “the chancellor has had to push back by a year the moment Britain returns to the black” which “cannot be postponed further”.The Times is concerned that, despite the welfare cuts, “the chancellor has had to push back by a year the moment Britain returns to the black” which “cannot be postponed further”.
But it is pleased that 2% of GDP will be spent on defence, which its sees as “an example of the flexible pragmatism that has become a hallmark of Mr Osborne’s style”. And it concludes:But it is pleased that 2% of GDP will be spent on defence, which its sees as “an example of the flexible pragmatism that has become a hallmark of Mr Osborne’s style”. And it concludes:
“This budget was an object lesson in the ability of a government with a solid record on jobs and economic management to galvanise employers and employees alike for the common good. It will benefit Britain, and it will benefit the chancellor.”“This budget was an object lesson in the ability of a government with a solid record on jobs and economic management to galvanise employers and employees alike for the common good. It will benefit Britain, and it will benefit the chancellor.”
The Telegraph thinks Osborne is responsible for a “genuinely important budget” and is particularly delighted with his “finding the money to increase the defence budget in real terms and meet Nato’s requirement of spending 2% of GDP on defence”.The Telegraph thinks Osborne is responsible for a “genuinely important budget” and is particularly delighted with his “finding the money to increase the defence budget in real terms and meet Nato’s requirement of spending 2% of GDP on defence”.
On the domestic front, it believes Osborne “has chosen the theme that will surely define the politics of this parliament: work, and work that is properly rewarded”.On the domestic front, it believes Osborne “has chosen the theme that will surely define the politics of this parliament: work, and work that is properly rewarded”.
This “is central to the Conservative tradition, which prefers self-sufficiency to reliance on others, and seeks to minimise the role of the state”. It continues:This “is central to the Conservative tradition, which prefers self-sufficiency to reliance on others, and seeks to minimise the role of the state”. It continues:
“Contrary to the protests of an increasingly irrelevant Labour party, his gradual reductions in tax credits are fair – fair to the taxpayers who have funded them, and fair to those who receive them: they will now be properly rewarded for their efforts, thanks to lower taxes and the new living wage”.“Contrary to the protests of an increasingly irrelevant Labour party, his gradual reductions in tax credits are fair – fair to the taxpayers who have funded them, and fair to those who receive them: they will now be properly rewarded for their efforts, thanks to lower taxes and the new living wage”.
The Telegraph sees Osborne’s adoption of the living wage as politically audacious and thinks his “boldness” should appeal to voters on lower wages.The Telegraph sees Osborne’s adoption of the living wage as politically audacious and thinks his “boldness” should appeal to voters on lower wages.
Although the Mail is, like the Times, worried about Osborne putting back his target for breaking even by another year, it applauds his “virtuoso budget” as “a masterclass in wrong-footing opponents” with “a blueprint for transforming Britain into a better, more prosperous country”.Although the Mail is, like the Times, worried about Osborne putting back his target for breaking even by another year, it applauds his “virtuoso budget” as “a masterclass in wrong-footing opponents” with “a blueprint for transforming Britain into a better, more prosperous country”.
It thinks “credit must go to Iain Duncan Smith, who laid the groundwork for the welfare reforms that lie at its heart”, so ending “labyrinthine subsidies for low wages”.It thinks “credit must go to Iain Duncan Smith, who laid the groundwork for the welfare reforms that lie at its heart”, so ending “labyrinthine subsidies for low wages”.
His masterstroke, says the Mail, “is increasing the minimum wage, rebranded a ‘living wage’, to £9 an hour by 2020 – with cuts in corporation tax and small firms’ national insurance to compensate”. It says:His masterstroke, says the Mail, “is increasing the minimum wage, rebranded a ‘living wage’, to £9 an hour by 2020 – with cuts in corporation tax and small firms’ national insurance to compensate”. It says:
“This is in the fine tradition of rabbits out of the chancellor’s budget hat, confounding his critics and thoroughly disarming Labour”.“This is in the fine tradition of rabbits out of the chancellor’s budget hat, confounding his critics and thoroughly disarming Labour”.
As the paper of middle England, the Mail welcomes “relief for middle-income families” as Osborne moves towards raising the threshold for the 40p tax rate to £50,000 by 2020.As the paper of middle England, the Mail welcomes “relief for middle-income families” as Osborne moves towards raising the threshold for the 40p tax rate to £50,000 by 2020.
It is concerned that “the £9 living wage can only encourage yet more migrants to flock to the UK” but concludes that Osborne, having “made Britain a more attractive place to live and work” can “congratulate himself on a job well done”.It is concerned that “the £9 living wage can only encourage yet more migrants to flock to the UK” but concludes that Osborne, having “made Britain a more attractive place to live and work” can “congratulate himself on a job well done”.
The Express is ecstatic that Osborne has raised the inheritance tax threshold to £1m, seeing it as “a welcome victory” for the paper’s crusade against the tax.The Express is ecstatic that Osborne has raised the inheritance tax threshold to £1m, seeing it as “a welcome victory” for the paper’s crusade against the tax.
But it wants him to abolish it altogether: “We and our readers will only be happy when inheritance tax is scrapped once and for all. It is the only fair solution”.But it wants him to abolish it altogether: “We and our readers will only be happy when inheritance tax is scrapped once and for all. It is the only fair solution”.
The Sun is also ecstatic about Osborne’s “historic” budget because it shifts “the national mindset away from decades of welfare dependency and towards ambition and hard work”. It continues:The Sun is also ecstatic about Osborne’s “historic” budget because it shifts “the national mindset away from decades of welfare dependency and towards ambition and hard work”. It continues:
“This was a budget we on the Sun could almost have written ourselves. The chancellor at last committed to spending 2% of national income on defence — in line both with Nato’s target and our own repeated calls for it to happen...“This was a budget we on the Sun could almost have written ourselves. The chancellor at last committed to spending 2% of national income on defence — in line both with Nato’s target and our own repeated calls for it to happen...
Mr Osborne froze fuel duty and found millions to keep women’s refuges open. Both are Sun campaign victories”.Mr Osborne froze fuel duty and found millions to keep women’s refuges open. Both are Sun campaign victories”.
It does “have a few reservations” but believes the budget “will convince workers that Tories are on their side” especially with “his last-minute show-stopper, a national living wage”.It does “have a few reservations” but believes the budget “will convince workers that Tories are on their side” especially with “his last-minute show-stopper, a national living wage”.
This Osborne budget, it says, “will have cemented in the minds of working Britain that the Tories, and not Labour, are on their side”.This Osborne budget, it says, “will have cemented in the minds of working Britain that the Tories, and not Labour, are on their side”.
The Guardian sees it very differently. Osborne “shrewdly calculated that for a Tory chancellor to commit to what he described as ‘a national living wage’ would be every bit as ear-catching as hearing the late Mary Whitehouse coming out with a run of sexual expletives”. It says:The Guardian sees it very differently. Osborne “shrewdly calculated that for a Tory chancellor to commit to what he described as ‘a national living wage’ would be every bit as ear-catching as hearing the late Mary Whitehouse coming out with a run of sexual expletives”. It says:
“This isn’t a living wage in the real sense of a pay rate carefully calculated in line with what workers need to live on. Mr Osborne’s proposal is instead for a rebranded minimum wage, starting at £7.20 an hour next year, less than the real living wage of £9.65 in London and £7.85 elsewhere.“This isn’t a living wage in the real sense of a pay rate carefully calculated in line with what workers need to live on. Mr Osborne’s proposal is instead for a rebranded minimum wage, starting at £7.20 an hour next year, less than the real living wage of £9.65 in London and £7.85 elsewhere.
Crucially, these numbers are calculated on the assumption that families can access the very tax credits that were being butchered while all attention was on Mr Osborne’s ‘living wage’...Crucially, these numbers are calculated on the assumption that families can access the very tax credits that were being butchered while all attention was on Mr Osborne’s ‘living wage’...
Minimum wage workers married to spouses on decent pay will have reason to thank Mr Osborne for a rise. But for poorly paid grafters in more penurious families, cuts to benefits and tax credits will overwhelm the gain: the net losses will frequently reach the high hundreds of pounds a year, and occasionally the low thousands”.Minimum wage workers married to spouses on decent pay will have reason to thank Mr Osborne for a rise. But for poorly paid grafters in more penurious families, cuts to benefits and tax credits will overwhelm the gain: the net losses will frequently reach the high hundreds of pounds a year, and occasionally the low thousands”.
Put this together with “a hideously complex new rule to ensure that those who come from £1m homes can inherit them tax-free”, says the Guardian, “and instead of an agenda for social mobility, you have an agenda to bring to mind the words of a Victorian hymn: ‘The rich man in his castle/The poor man at his gate/God made them high and lowly, and ordered their estate’”.Put this together with “a hideously complex new rule to ensure that those who come from £1m homes can inherit them tax-free”, says the Guardian, “and instead of an agenda for social mobility, you have an agenda to bring to mind the words of a Victorian hymn: ‘The rich man in his castle/The poor man at his gate/God made them high and lowly, and ordered their estate’”.
The Independent sees the budget as “a tour de force in political fast footwork” that amounts to “very bad news for the most vulnerable in society”. It says:The Independent sees the budget as “a tour de force in political fast footwork” that amounts to “very bad news for the most vulnerable in society”. It says:
“As in the 1980s, Britain will become a more visibly unequal society. None of that seemed to embarrass the chancellor”. While making claim to the notion that the Conservatives are the party of “working people”, he is “squeezing the very poorest who have no job” and “indulging in some modest acts of redistribution from the very rich”.“As in the 1980s, Britain will become a more visibly unequal society. None of that seemed to embarrass the chancellor”. While making claim to the notion that the Conservatives are the party of “working people”, he is “squeezing the very poorest who have no job” and “indulging in some modest acts of redistribution from the very rich”.
It is sceptical about whether the national living wage will lift people out of poverty: “Slashing tax credits (to which the previous living wage target was pegged) means the net effect for many may be minimal, especially given age restrictions and the cost of living in London”.It is sceptical about whether the national living wage will lift people out of poverty: “Slashing tax credits (to which the previous living wage target was pegged) means the net effect for many may be minimal, especially given age restrictions and the cost of living in London”.
And the Mirror, in a surprisingly short leading article, sees it as “a deceitful budget that will slash the living standards of many hard-working Britons”. It continues:And the Mirror, in a surprisingly short leading article, sees it as “a deceitful budget that will slash the living standards of many hard-working Britons”. It continues:
“Slashing tax credits and other financial support for lower paid workers is a mean trick in a wolf of a budget dressed up as a sheep... The young will be hit hardest while the Tory nanny limits help to two children per parent or couple.“Slashing tax credits and other financial support for lower paid workers is a mean trick in a wolf of a budget dressed up as a sheep... The young will be hit hardest while the Tory nanny limits help to two children per parent or couple.
“This smacks of social engineering by a wealthy man who thinks only the rich deserve to have larger families”.“This smacks of social engineering by a wealthy man who thinks only the rich deserve to have larger families”.
Plenty of commentators have their say too, naturally enough. David Aaronovitch, in the Times, questions the wisdom of raising the inheritance tax threshold.Plenty of commentators have their say too, naturally enough. David Aaronovitch, in the Times, questions the wisdom of raising the inheritance tax threshold.
The Guardian’s Seumas Milne believes that the Tory government has set Britain on course for US-style levels of public spending, and loaded the costs of a continuing crisis on to the backs of those least able to shoulder the burden.The Guardian’s Seumas Milne believes that the Tory government has set Britain on course for US-style levels of public spending, and loaded the costs of a continuing crisis on to the backs of those least able to shoulder the burden.
The FT’s Martin Wolf thinks Osborne’s budget is boldly political while the Telegraph’s Allister Heath says Osborne’s brand of conservatism attempts to marry, not entirely coherently, a smaller state with extensive government intervention.The FT’s Martin Wolf thinks Osborne’s budget is boldly political while the Telegraph’s Allister Heath says Osborne’s brand of conservatism attempts to marry, not entirely coherently, a smaller state with extensive government intervention.
In the Indy, Steve Richards argues that “Osborne seeks to be a progressive, but he’s still in thrall to Thatcherism” and that his ambition is to reduce the size of the state “limits him when he hails other more innovative proposals”. In the Indy, Steve Richards argues that “Osborne seeks to be a progressive, but he’s still in thrall to Thatcherism” and his ambition is to reduce the size of the state “limits him when he hails other more innovative proposals”.