Will taxes rise or fall in next month’s Spring Budget? Host Claer Barrett visits the recently appointed financial secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Huddleston. He addresses the topic of tax cuts as well as listener concerns about static personal allowance thresholds, reduced entitlements to child benefit and ISA withdrawal penalties. 

Back in the studio, FT’s Whitehall editor and Political Fix podcast host Lucy Fisher joins Claer to scratch beneath the surface of the minister’s comments on progressive tax policy in light of the IMF’s latest warning to chancellor Jeremy Hunt not to lower taxes. The two also discuss the national insurance reduction, the future of Lifetime ISAs and the importance of appealing to younger voters in the run-up to the election.

Read the full news story here. 

For tips on how to organise your money, sign up to email series Sort Your Financial Life Out With Claer Barrett at FT.com/moneycourse

Follow Claer on social media @Claerb and contact the Money Clinic team via money@ft.com

Want more? 

Check out economics editor Sam Fleming’s article, IMF warns Jeremy Hunt against tax cuts in call to shore up UK public finances

Listen to more episodes on tax, such as When is a tax cut not a tax cut? The Autumn Statement digested, Understanding economics: why it matters for your money, and more.

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Tamara Kormornick and Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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