Buried in the OBR report on the budget is the statement “weak growth in imports and exports over the medium term partly reflect the continuing impact of Brexit, which we expect to reduce the overall trade intensity of the UK economy by 15 per cent in the long term”. Based on the latest data for UK exports to the EU, that means a fall of £43bn. If the UK does not rejoin the EU, or at least the single market, Labour can never achieve the growth required to rebuild our economy and fund the restoration of our public services.
Dr Eric Goodyer
Birsay, Orkney
• There was much to be welcomed in the budget on funding for education, but there were some significant items missing. Most universities are in a parlous position, many having to cut staff, courses and resources. But there was no extra funding for universities in the budget. Surely if we need innovation for the economy to grow, as the government states, then we need the research and graduates that universities provide?
Rae Street
Littleborough, Greater Manchester
• I am appalled at your front-page headline in the print edition (Return of tax and spend, 31 October), which has an unhelpful pejorative connotation. The Tories have long used this as an attack line, helping to con people into thinking that good public services somehow come free. This is investment in essential services, and it is the best news we have had for 15 years.
Elaine Woodhams
Cawthorne, South Yorkshire
• “Return of tax and spend”? You can do better than use a Tory mantra. We’re crying out for a better NHS and an education system where children don’t have to wait more than four years for a special needs assessment. I’m willing to be taxed more for a civilised country.
David Lang
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
• Surely a more accurate headline would be “End of slash and burn”.
George Steel
Liverpool
• Your budget leader (30 October) mentions median remuneration of £4.19m a year for FTSE executives. Presumably they’ll be first in line for the less generous pay rises that businesses feel will be necessary to cover the increased rate of employers’ national insurance.
Ian Watson
Glasgow
• In New Labour terms, Rachel Reeves’s budget is in the “a bit done, a lot still to do” area. But any budget that annoys Jeremy Clarkson is clearly on the right lines.
Keith Flett
Tottenham, London
• So the chancellor has raised the cap on bus fares from £2 to £3. What a pity she didn’t cap bankers’ bonuses at £3 at the same time.
Pete Lavender
Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire
• Fantastic, a penny off a pint – a free one for every 498 (on average)!
Pete Lawson
Sunderland
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