UK Budget 2008 - Business
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Special features
End to tax loopholes set to net £600m
Tax avoidance came under renewed assault, with a strengthening of the disclosure regime for tax-planning schemes and a closure of loopholes that will raise more than £600m next year
Treasury looks to reduce N Rock debt to £14bn
Figures show the government is planning to refinance Northern Rock’s loan from the Bank of England this year by issuing more government bonds.
Brown calls for VAT cut on ‘green’ products
The prime minister’s initiative on goods such as low-energy fridges and dishwashers comes as EU leaders grapple with ways to meet their ambitious climate change targets
Drinks trade furious at excise duty rise
Imposition of inflation-linked increases in excise duty on beer, wine and spirits reverses a trend of falling taxes on these intoxicants since Labour came to power in 1997
Duty rises fail to end binge fears
Health groups and brewers warn that the 9.1% increase in alcohol taxes will not curb binge drinking unless the government also stops price discounting by supermarkets
CBI offers cure for ‘uncompetitive’ UK
Business leaders urge bolder moves to address the UK’s deteriorating competitiveness and call for corporation tax to be cut down to 18% to prevent an exodus to lower jurisdictions
Budget to target ‘green’ and alcohol taxes
Alistair Darling, chancellor, will use his first Budget to raise costs for drivers of big cars and drinkers of wines and spirits, in an attempt to source more funds for the government’s fight against poverty
Negatives outweigh positives for Darling
A legacy that appeared almost as strong as the one Mr Brown had been handed 10 years earlier looks distinctly less golden – and not just because of global credit squeeze
Groups to tender for trials on road pricing
The transport department’s invitation to IT companies to submit contract bids is a signal that it has not surrendered to the motoring lobby over the controversial policy
Green switch could reshape auto trade
The government’s Budget revamp of tax rules for company cars could influence the shape of the British car industry, says companies and analysts
