Bygone budgets: March 1980

Geoffrey Howe's second budget was notable for the number of leaks, breaking the tradition of pre-budgetary purdah, which suggested it would be a budget of unremitting harshness. The chancellor described his tight monetary policy and clampdown on spending as "inescapable". Opposition leader Jim Callaghan called the budget the most socially divisive since 1931.

Income tax
The lower income tax rate of 25% is abolished.

Prescription charges
Raised from 45p to £1.

Benefits
Sickness benefits and unemployment benefits made taxable.

Strikes
Supplementary benefits paid to families of strikers would be cut by basing them on the assumption (not necessarily the case) that strikers were receiving £12 a week sick pay.

Duties
Beer up 2p, wine up 8p, whisky up 50p.