Budget to be held in two weeks

10 March 2010 | By Natalie Thomas

The budget will come just six weeks ahead of the anticipated general election on May 6.

In a speech today, Brown, says: “For the first time in British history, the government has made a tough legally binding commitment to reduce the deficit: a contract between the government and the British people. This contract says we will more than halve the deficit over four years, and we will also reduce the size of the structural deficit by two-thirds over the same period.

“We will set out in more detail in the budget in two weeks’ time how we deliver on our commitment to restore the public finances while protecting the fundamental public services that we all depend on.”

He adds: “We have already announced tax and national insurance increases that are fair so that we can both cut the deficit and protect hospitals schools and policing

“And we are taking the tough decisions on spending. This will include forcing all government departments to make real and lasting efficiency savings. Every single penny of taxpayers money will be spent wisely - founded on the same principle that families and businesses employ to decide their spending.”