Summary

  • Chancellor Philip Hammond has presented the 2017 Spring Budget

  • Budget provides "strong, stable platform for Brexit" Chancellor says

  • National insurance contributions will rise for the self-employed

  • £2bn extra for adult social care

  • Economic growth forecast raised for 2017 to 2%

  • Borrowing forecast cut to £51.7bn in 2016

  • Labour: Budget of 'utter complacency'

  • Get in touch: bizlivepage@bbc.co.uk

  1. Budget: Don't be fooled if it turns out to be dullpublished at 06:47 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2017

    Consider Wednesday's Budget as part of a box set - the latest episode in a financial drama that began with the banking crisis.

    Like all good series, there are episodes which allow the scriptwriters to set up the story for a more dramatic encounter later on.

    Read more here.

  2. His first, his last... his everything?published at 06:45 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2017

    Colletta Smith
    Radio 5 Live presenter

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  3. 'Good luck Philip'published at 06:42 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2017

    Former Chancellor tweets...

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  4. Reality Check: Are taxes going up to 1986 levels?published at 06:35 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2017

    IFS quote

    The claim: Taxes could rise to their highest level as a proportion of national income since 1986-87 by 2019-20.

    Reality Check verdict: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts suggest taxes could actually reach that level as soon as 2017-18. That may not happen if changes are made in this week's Budget and it is only a forecast, so unexpected events could prevent it happening.

    Read more here .

  5. Some HMRC rules 'archaic'published at 06:28 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2017

    BBC Radio 5 live

    So what are some businesses looking for from the Budget?

    Lyndsey Simpson, co-owner of HR and recruitment outfit the Curve Group, says some of the HMRC rules are "fairly archaic and don't make sense in today's world".

    She says, for example, that if her firm provides working lunches to teams in the office, that's deemed as a taxable benefit. In recruitment candidates can be interviewed in hotels and coffee shops, but that is deemed by HMRC as "entertainment" and not an allowable work expense against a corporation tax bill.

  6. National Insurance rate hike for the self-employed?published at 06:18 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2017

    BBC Radio 5 live

    So where's the money going to come from to fund these initiatives?

    One of the areas where he may take back some money is from the self-employed by raising their National Insurance contributions.

  7. Budget expectationspublished at 06:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2017

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Rabbits in hatsImage source, Getty Images

    So what are we expecting from today's Budget? No rabbits from hats, apparently, but we're expecting some headline-grabbers over social and healthcare. While he's unlikely to want to raise income tax as that would not help people who are "just about managing", he probably won't want to cut services either.

    After a revaluation, some businesses face a huge rise in rates from April. In the longer term, there may be a complete overhaul of business rates, but the Chancellor may make some move today to indicate what he may do in the short-term.

    There's expected to be £500m set aside for new vocational alternatives to A-levels, which will replace about 13,000 qualifications with 15 "routes" linked to the needs of employers.

  8. Good morningpublished at 06:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2017

    Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to use the Spring Budget today to give an upbeat assessment of the economy after the Brexit vote.

    However, he will say many families are "still feeling the pinch" after the 2008 financial crisis.

    On the business side, Mr Hammond is expected to assist businesses hit by increased business rates following the government's first re-valuation of commercial property values since 2010.