
From a strictly fiscal perspective, the government’s decision to U-turn on the cut to the 45p top rate of income tax is essentially meaningless. What was a £45 billion tax-cutting budget that sunk the pound, set off gilts and required an emergency intervention by the Bank of England is now a £43 billion tax-cutting budget. Of course, politically, it is quite a revealing moment.
Before we start, a reality check: the prime minister had no choice. Liz Truss was haemorrhaging support from various factions within the Conservative Party to the extent that she seemed certain to lose a vote on the matter. The good news for her is that eventually has now been averted.