Budget 2009

John_Pierpoint

JayScottGreenspan wrote: »

Wasn't his speech about 50 minutes long?

(In which case, you might be right...)

You were quite right, though the programme started at noon there was plenty of knock about stuff and Darling did not get on his feet until half past.

1.20pm:
To reflect the work done by grandparents, those with caring responsibilities will have help with their pensions (through national insurance topups, I presume).
Darling says that, even though there is deflation, pensioner benefits will not fall (benefit payments are normally linked to inflation figures).
The winter allowance will continue at its increased level next year.
From November, the limit on the amount of savings allowed to pensioners before they lose benefit will rise to £10,000.


Taken from the Guardian's "Pastures New" style blog.
(I did not understand the grandparents comment either and may have jumped to the conclusion that Darling had stated talking about pensioners ie all grandparents are pensioners:o)
So it looks like he saved up the pensioners for the closing minutes of the budget..


http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2009/apr/22/budget-2009-live-blog