Crystal ball gazing
Could Gordon Brown use Monday's mini-budget as the starting gun for a spring general election?
If he does, these are some of the measures that could feature in the pre-budget report on Monday (as well as moves that may be "buried"):
• Controversial hikes in car tax dumped or delayed.
• Rethink on levy on empty commercial properties with business chiefs and North East Minister Nick Brown warning about damaging impact.
• Tax cuts focussed on lower income earners - possibly through tax credits.
.
• Measures to force banks to lend to small businesses amid possible larger economic stimulus package.
• Potential further measures to help the property market and property-owners.
• Details of bringing forward infrastructure projects.
And here are some of things that may be less popular/more political sensitive:
• Massive rise in public borrowing and potential for future tax hikes to pay for soaring debt - possibly until after a general election.
• Dumping of Gordon Brown's golden fiscal rules of borrowing not exceeding 40% of GDP and borrowing for investment - although Labour may argue that point.
• Cut in predictions of economic growth.
• Tightening of spending in some Government departments.
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