Budget speculation is paralysing Britain. So let's scrap it

The Government is at a standstill. So is the business world and so are millions of ordinary taxpayers trying to work out what to do with their money.

We are all waiting for the Budget . In three weeks’ time, Rachel Reeves will finally reveal where the burden of tax rises will land , and what sweeteners will be on offer to make up for all the pain.

Until 26 November, there is a sense of suspended animation. Businesses and individuals cannot make investment decisions because they do not know the tax implications of anything they do, and Cabinet ministers are reluctant to launch any grand plans while all the public attention is on the contents of the Budget.

There is no question that the Chancellor herself is partly responsible for this. She chose to hold the Budget unusually late