The difference between said and done

摘要

The nation's 38 million T motorists might have a degree of sympathy for the chancellor. All will know how difficult it can be to do a U-turn in challenging circumstances. But beyond the controversy surrounding National Insurance Contributions, this year's Budget appeared - on the surface at least - to be a fiscal occasion where 'no news was good news' for drivers. There wasn't even mention of fuel duty in the chancellor's speech; not even passing acknowledgement that rates will remain fixed, as promised in last year's Autumn Statement. With the freeze in duty now extended into its seventh year this is clearly one policy that no incumbent of Number 11 seems keen to reverse.