Again - just rhetoric. With personal income allowances frozen, dividend income slashed, CGT thresholds cut down and no improvement to the thresholds on pension contributions and inheritance tax, Hunt is cleverly pushing more people into a taxable wealth bracket.
The "squeezed middle" will be squeezed further.
Five: Extensions to the energy bill support are to be welcomed - of course. But with the Office for Budget Responsibility predicting continued headwinds, the likelihood of a longer-than-hoped-for recession and an increase in unemployment, the average Briton will need more support to get them through the cost of living crisis.
Popcorn
It's not all bad. Like most film sequels, this straight-to-DVD version of Frozen has its positive points. It does commit to supporting UK growth through more sensible reform.
It does aim to improve debt servicing costs and leave more money to invest in public services. Its windfall taxes on energy companies are to be welcomed, along with pledges to invest in greener alternatives.
But overall this 'Frozen' sequel will leave viewers feeling they were promised too much but got little in return - and they still had to shell out on popcorn at inflated prices.
(Interesting fact - popcorn became popular during the Great Depression as it was relatively cheap to produce as a filling snack).
It just does not leave the ordinary Briton feeling particularly festive or relieved that there are not further big tax liabilities to come in the next instalment.
Overall stars? 2.5 out of 5 - and that is because I am already feeling that pre-Christmas generosity that starts to hit us this time of year. Until the bills come in, that is.
simoney.kyriakou@ft.com
