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The mini-budget...and what it means for you

Described as a mini-budge, there was enough affecting your finances in this statement to fill any full-scale Budget.

In a massive shake-up of the UK's finances - the Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, has outlined a series of tax cuts and economic measures he says will boost growth. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies says it's the biggest tax-cutting event since 1972. The basic rate of income tax has been cut to 19p and the 45% top rate of tax for higher earners abolished - although this doesn't apply in Scotland. The threshold before stamp duty is paid in England and Northern Ireland has been raised to 拢250,000 - for first time buyers it's 拢425,000. The cap on bankers' bonuses has been lifted - and a planned rise in corporation tax has been scrapped. An increase in National Insurance has been reversed, and low-tax investment zones will be set up across the UK. Labour's shadow chancellor said it was a plan "to reward the already wealthy" and would not help those struggling most with rising prices.

Answering the key questions - from both political and economic perspectives - are 大象传媒 correspondents, Helen Catt and Kevin Peachey.

Image Credit: House of Commons/ Reuters

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