Government pushes back economic statement

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has delayed the announcement of the government's economic plan until 17 November.

The Medium-Term Fiscal Plan was due to be delivered by the Chancellor in the Commons on 31 October, along with a forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

This had been brought forward because of the market turmoil that followed September's Mini Budget.

But it will now be put back by more than two weeks and be turned into a full Autumn Statement - expanding its remit and providing longer term plans.

The delay followed the reversals of most of the measures announced in the recent Mini Budget.

Mr Hunt announced that the following tax policies will no longer be taken forward:

• cutting the basic rate of income tax to 19% from April 2023. The basic rate of income tax will remain at 20% indefinitely.

• cutting dividend tax by 1.25 percentage points from April 2023. The 1.25 percentage point increase, which took effect in April 2022, will remain in place.

• repealing the 2017 and 2021 reforms to the off-payroll working rules (also known as IR35) from April 2023. The reforms will remain in place.

The changes follow decisions not to proceed with proposals to remove the additional rate of income tax and to cancel the planned rise in the corporation tax rate.

Mr Hunt said:

'Our number one priority is economic stability and restoring confidence that the United Kingdom is a country that pays its way. But it is also extremely important the statement is based on the most accurate possible economic forecasts and forecasts of public finances.'

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