This afternoon (20 March 2013) the chancellor of the exchequer delivered another UK budget which will have significant implications for the economy, for the most vulnerable in society and for the environment.


This afternoon (20 March 2013) the chancellor of the exchequer delivered another UK budget which will have significant implications for the economy, for the most vulnerable in society and for the environment.

Budgets, Ekklesia believes, are moral documents. They are not just about abstract figures. They indicate the priorities and vision (or lack of it) of a society and the choices it – and especially its elected leaders – wishes to make.

As is our custom, we have been following the budget announcements closely and offering comment and reaction from our friends and associates, focusing on a range of experts in overlapping fields.

Responses have forthcoming from a number of NGOs, church agencies, unions and think-tank allies – including sources of alternative economic thinking like the New Economics Foundation, Tax Research, Prime Economics and others.

Ekklesia has been linking and reporting on the key issues, questions and analyses. More will be offered over the next two days.

It’s also worth noting that our occasional columnist Ann Pettifor, director of policy at Prime Economics, was on BBC1 Newsnight on 20 March. This can be viewed again on several playback services. See also Ann’s short lecture, ‘Delusional Economics and the Economic Cost of Mr Osborne’ via YouTube (https://t.co/w08Mb6z2yP).

* Follow the 2013 budget on Ekklesia here: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/budget2013

* You can now download all official Budget 2013 documents on the Treasury website: http://bit.ly/YWd3hx

* To compare a range of past budgets and statements, look back on: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/budget

* Guardian budget calculator: http://t.co/2qxOr44vbd

* New Economics Foundation: http://www.neweconomics.org/

* ToUChstone blog detailed analysis: http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/

* Resolution Foundation budget analysis and response: http://www.resolutionfoundation.org/press/

* Jonathan Portes (NIESR), Not the Treasury: http://notthetreasuryview.blogspot.co.uk/

* Tax Research UK: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/

* Prime Economics: http://www.primeeconomics.org/

* False Economy: http://falseeconomy.org.uk/

* Age UK (impact on elderly): http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/budget/what-the-2013-budget-means-for-you/

* Disability Rights UK: http://t.co/t4mlnaMCFy

* Past budget year analysis aggregated individually on Ekklesia: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/budget2012, http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/budget2011, and http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/budget2010.