Tucked in with the #budget18 papers The Crypto Taskforce has concluded that Crypto and DLT has the potential to deliver significant benefits in both financial services and other sectors. Crucially there is a mandate to act and provide much needed regulatory clarity.

“The duties stood like a wall of brass between the poor man and a glass of wine.”

William Gladstone, Chancellor of the Exchequer, on reducing excise duty on #wine during the Budget of 1860.

#Budget18

Not wanting to get too heavy about the #Budget18 one point did prompt a memory of my childhood. The old 50p piece celebrating the entry in to the Common Market. Which according to people back then meant cheaper wine.

'We've got to have a conversation about what we want this country to be in the next 10 years, and we don't want it to be a high debt and unequal place', Positive Money's Fran Boait reacts to #Budget18 on Sky News Tonight

What Philip Hammond didn't mention during his budget statement: the Tories are cutting Scotland's budget by £1.9 billion. #Budget18

I cannot believe I am tweeting about the #Budget18 but as a NHS worker on a basic income, I am rather pleased about that in future I will be £1200 a year better off!!! Thanks Phil, this is TRUE conservatism - more in the pockets of the least well off!

Thrilled to bits that ⁦Thirteen Group⁩ is one of the 9 Strategic Partnerships with ⁦Homes England⁩ announced by ⁦Philip Hammond⁩ yesterday in the #Budget18 . We will be significantly increasing our development programme across the N East and N Yorks.

Because of Brexit uncertainties, this budget based on forecasts that are only a bit more reliable than holding up a wet finger in the wind #budget18

#Budget18 offers bit of relief but does little to take local public services off the critical list. Unlike NHS, which has been offered both multi-year funding and a commitment to a 10-year plan, #localgov have to make do with sticking plasters yet again.

AHF has been awarded £15m from the Future High Streets Fund to help #charities , #commbiz and #SocEnt transform historic buildings on #highstreets across England. A fantastic opportunity to help communities #SaveTheHighStreet #Budget18 Department for Culture, Media and Sport Michael Ellis ahfund.org.uk/news-source/20…

Sometimes what ISN'T said is as important as what is.
Not a single mention of #climatechange .

We are hurtling towards #ClimateBreakdown , yet the Chancellor has kept oil and gas tax breaks, boosted road-building and frozen fuel duty. Astonishing. #BudgetDay #Budget18

Post #Budget18 poll shows that 52% of Brits aren’t falling for #ProjectFear ...

52% you say? 🤔 “Nothing has changed, nothing has changed”

#StandUp4Brexit #ChuckChequers #BinTheBackstop

What Philip Hammond didn't mention during his budget statement: the Tories are cutting Scotland's budget by £1.9 billion. #Budget18
Which really is'nt that surprising, What is surprising is that some folk in Scotland will still blindly vote for the toxic Tories.
#AreYouYesYet

We're cutting business rates for small shops by 1/3. Increasing the National Living Wage. Investing £20.5bn a year into the NHS. Continuing to cut income tax.
The Budget18 has gone down very well on the door steps in Worcester today! #torycanvass #ToryCanvass 🗳 Conservatives

Morecambe Bay looking very still this evening. But Morecambe is anything but 'still'. With Govt DEFRA Minister Thérèse Coffey v.recently officially opening the 10m Promenade Sea Defence & now the specific mention in #Budget18 of £100k for Eden Project North' Chris J Coates

Over the moon that Legacy Optivo (Customer Services) is one of the nine #StrategicPartnerships announced by Philip Hammond in #Budget18 . Working with Homes England we will start 1,000 new-build #AffordableHomes by March 2022. Nick Walkley #ukhousing

So BBC News is now literally a party political broadcast for the Conservative Party. #Budget18

What Philip Hammond didn't mention during his budget statement: the Tories are cutting Scotland's budget by £1.9 billion. #Budget18 — with Sandra Ramsay.

It's time to #UseTheMandate & #DesolveTheUnion

My message to the Govt in response to #Budget18 :

People in #StHelens are resilient. But it’s been tough. We’ve had enough of Tory cuts. And we’re ambitious for the future. Now we need proper funding & investment to get things done.

Full speech here ➡️ facebook.com/14551269881338…

Here is extract from #Budget18 about mental health. Great to see MH in there and commitment to parity of esteem, but services for children & young people MUST start in infancy. It would be wonderful to see more on early intervention to prevent things reaching crisis point.