Britain to increase tax rates

Published November 23, 2008

LONDON, Nov 22: British finance minister Alistair Darling will warn on Monday that taxes will rise in the future to pay for a stimulus plan to boost the faltering economy, media reports said on Saturday.

Darling delivers his so-called pre-budget report -- an outline of his taxation and spending plans ahead of the full 2009-2010 annual budget due early next year — before parliament on Monday.

He was tipped to unveil a huge economic package to help soften the impact of a looming sharp economic slowdown, after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown advocated such an approach at a recent G20 meeting.

Media reports suggest Darling will ramp up public spending, while slashing taxes by between 15-30 billion pounds (18-35 billion euros, $22-44 billion).

The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian newspapers said Darling would argue that higher tax increases and reduced public spending were needed at some stage in the future.—AFP

Opinion

Respite needed

Respite needed

All one can fear is a familiar accounting exercise that aims to extract a few more rupees from a narrow, weary economic base.

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