Budget 2021: key points at a glance

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Rishi Sunak has announced his budget – here are the main points, with political analysis

Sunak softens universal credit cuts to tackle squeeze on familiesSunak handed extra £51bn after growth forecasts are upgradedAnalysis: Sunak offers spending now – and signals tax cuts later

Rishi Sunak says his budget delivers a stronger economy for the British people: stronger growth, public finances and employment. The chancellor says he will give people the support they need with the cost of living and levelling up.

The chancellor says inflationary pressures are affecting the UK economy, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasting that inflation will average 4% next year.

He says the pressures are global in nature and are “impossible for us to address alone”. However, the government will act to support households, he says.

The chancellor says forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility show the economy will grow by 6.5% this year.

Sunak says it will take until the start of 2022 for the economy to return to its pre-pandemic size.

GDP will grow by 6% next year, 2.1% in 2023, 1.3% in 2024, 1.6% in 2025.

In March, the OBR had forecast growth of 4% this year, after a plunge of 9.9% in 2020 – the worst recession for 300 years.

The OBR’s estimate for long-term scarring for the economy has been revised down from 3% to 2%.

Unemployment is forecast to peak at 5.2%, down from a forecast for about 12% forecast last year.

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