(expired)Darling Tipped For Budget Bonanza
Alistair Darling’s pre-budget speech next Monday will be very different to the one he gave just nine months ago. His claims back in March that “the British economy will continue to grow through this year and beyond” are likely to be replaced with a promise that the UK can, and will, spend their way out of a spiraling recession.
Bookmakers Paddy Power are betting this year’s pre-budget report will include some generous cuts in taxation across the board.
It’s 4/5 with the Irish bookmaker that the standard rate of income tax is reduced while it’s just 6/4 that the old low rate tax band of 10% makes a comeback. Corporation tax is also likely to be reduced from its current rate of 21%, while it’s 2/5 odds-on that the Government will choose to reduce the 12.8% rate of employers’ national insurance contributions.
On a lighter note, Paddy Power are betting on which buzzword the Chancellor will make his own next week. Last March the word ‘Stability’ was the order of the day with Darling using it a total of 23 times in his speech. A lot has happened in the last nine months and ‘Protection’ is the now the 5/1 favourite to be the first word/phrase uttered from the Chancellor’s mouth.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. Those who plan on tuning in to next Monday’s pre-budget speech can also bet on what colour tie the Chancellor will don to how many sips of water he’ll consume, and how quickly he delivers his speech.UK Pre Budget Speech Betting from Paddy Power:-
· Cliché Betting
· Number of sip’s taken
· Length of Speech
· Colour of Chancellor’s Tie
· Tax Cuts – will the old 10% tax band make a comeback?
Earlier this year ‘Stability’ was the word first uttered by Alistair Darling. Darling is being tipped to stress the word Protection’ as the UK weathers one of the most difficult economic climates.
What word/phrase will Alistair Darling say first?
5/1 Protect/Protection/Protecting
7/1 Commitment
7/1 Support
7/1 Spend/ Spending
8/1 Economic Crisis
8/1 World Recession
9/1 Global Crisis
10/1 Priority/Priorities
10/1 Unemployment
12/1 Vulnerable
14/1 Stability
16/1 Weather the storm
20/1 Prudent/Prudence
33/1 Safe
66/1 Boom Economy
100/1 Paddy Power
Darling proved in March, like his predecessor Gordon Brown, that he wasn’t one to waste time. He took no sips of water in his last speech to the House.
How many sips of water will the Chancellor take?
Evs None
9/4 One
2/1 Two or more
Despite the fact Darling’s last speech felt long, it actually finished under the 55 minute mark. Will Monday’s be short & snappy?
For how long will the Chancellor speak?
2/1 Less than 45 mins
5/4 45 – 55mins
7/4 More than 55mins
Gordon Brown wore pink in 2007and purple in 2006, while Darling opted for purple earlier in the year. Red is traditionally associated with Labour. What will Alistair dazzle the House of Commons with on Monday?
What colour tie will Alistair Darling wear?
3/1 Pink
7/2 Pale Blue
4/1 Red
6/1 Purple
8/1 Yellow/Gold
10/1 Dark Blue/Navy
12/1 Green
16/1 Grey/Silver
16/1 Brown
25/1 Black
33/1 Orange/Peach
40/1 White
66/1 Open collar/No Tie
100/1 Cravate
250/1 Bow Tie
Others on request
Will the 40% top rate of Income Tax be reduced?
1/3 No
2/1 Yes
Will the standard rate of Income Tax be reduced?
4/5 Yes
10/11 No
Will the old low rate tax band of 10% make a comeback?
1/2 No
6/4 Yes
Will the 17.5% general rate of VAT be reduced?
1/4 Yes
5/2 No
Will there be a reduction in the rate of Employers’ National Insurance Contributions?
2/5 Yes
7/4 No
Will they reduce the rate of corporation tax from 21%?
4/6 Yes
11/10 No
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