The Budget 2015 – live update

published 18 March 2015

150318-budget — George Osborne gives his last Budget before the election

Chancellor George Osborne is making his annual statement on the Budget today at 12:30 in the House of Commons. Follow along with the latest developments below.

12:33

The Chancellor rises to deliver his final budget before the election.

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12:36Osborne says that five years ago the deficit was out of control, now, as a share of national income, it is down by half.

12:38Trade deficit figures the best for 15 years

12:39The OBR has confirmed Britain's growth in 2014 was 2.6% - faster than any other major advanced economy in the world last year.

1242:Truly national recovery, lowest claimant count for 15 years. Employment growing fastest in the north.

12:47Sales of £13bn in mortgages from bailed out Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley to take place. Money to be used to help pay down national debt.

12:50The economy will expand by 2.3% for the next three years after, then 2.4% in 2019. National debt as share of GDP to fall gradually from 80.4% to 71.6% in 2019-2020.

12.57Share of income tax from top 1% earners has increased from 25% to 27%.

13.02Pensions: Lifetime Allowance will be cut from £1.25m to £1m, saving £600m a year. Less than 4% of pension savers now nearing retirement will be affected. From 2018, Lifetime Allowance to be index linked.

13:09Bank levy to be hiked to 0.21%, raising an additional £900m a year. 13:11

13:11Northern Powerhouse: transport strategy for the north to be published; Greater Manchester to keep 100% of additional growth in business rates to support growth across the region; Cambridge to be offered similar deal

13.16£1.3bn of support announced for struggling North Sea oil and gas sector through tax breaks and incentives. Petroleum revenue tax to be cut from 50% to 35%.

13:20Aim to bring ultrafast broadband 100MB/sec to all households in the UK

13:23Annual tax return to be abolished, replaced by "real-time" accounts and filing. Class 2 NI contributions for the self-employed to end.

13:24:Penny off pint for third year running

13: 27:Tax:Personal allowance to rise £11,000; tax cut for 27m and higher rate to start at £43,300 by 2017-18.

13:30Help to buy Isa: for every £200 saved for deposit government will top it up with £50.

Kam is a former deputy editor at Hemscott Invest and online editor, City A.M and he was also previously the Digital Editor at IFA Magazine. Kam is currently a senior journalist at The Global Treasurer and contributes to MoneyWeek. Kam shares expertise on the FTSE 100, investing and global stocks.