What's happening?

Tomorrow is the budgetA plan for income and spending over a certain time period. speech. Britain's chancellorThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the minister responsible for the British government's economic policy. The job is often regarded as second in power and important to that of the prime minister. Jeremy Hunt will set out how much money the governmentThe group of people who govern - or lead - the country. plans to spend - and how much taxMoney workers pay to the government to pay for services like roads and hospitals. it will charge people to pay for its spending.

Hunt, who is a member of the ruling Conservative partyA British political party. Members are known as Tories., thinks the government should tax people as little as possible.

The Conservatives hope that if they lower the amount of tax people pay, more people will vote for them at the next electionA vote in which someone is chosen to represent a group of people. .

Conservatives also say that the more people can keep from what they earn, the harder they will work and the more money they will spend on new businesses. This, they say, should help the economyThe way that money flows through a country, which affects wages and the cost of living. grow.

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But the government needs tax to spend on the services it provides. Countries such as Denmark are famous for charging high taxes to pay for things like hospitals.

Is tax theft?

Yes! People work hard to earn their money. It is unfair for the government to take a large amount of it. Taxes should be as low as possible.

No! Tax pays for things that everyone needs, from roads and schools to hospitals and fire brigades. So when you pay tax you are doing it for your own good, even though other people spend the money.