Proposed 1% pay rise for NHS staff branded ‘pitiful and bitterly disappointing’ – as it happened
Royal College of Nursing says government ‘dangerously out of touch’ with nursing staff, NHS workers and the public
Was there a big cut to NHS frontline services buried in the budget?
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth claimed a £30.1bn shortfall was hidden in Rishi Sunak’s statement
How the language of meritocracy has transformed Britain’s politics
New research suggests that ideas about hard work and equal opportunity are firmly entrenched, say The UK in a Changing Europe’s Anand Menon and Alan Wager
Sharp rise in ‘Neets’ shows impact of Covid lockdowns on UK young
Number of 16-24s not in education, employment or training surges to nearly 800,000, ONS reveals
UK car industry reports worst February sales since 1959
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders cuts 2021 forecast after 35.5% year-on-year decline
IFS criticises ‘remarkable’ move not to phase out universal credit uplift
IFS says £80 per month benefit uplift should be cut gradually and doubts if Sunak can stick to his spending plans
Sunak is an arsonist posing as a firefighter. It’s Labour’s job to expose the truth
The chancellor appears keener on spending than his Tory predecessors. But who really benefits from this budget, asks Guardian columnist Owen Jones
UK living standards to stagnate even after Covid crisis fades, warns thinktank
Resolution Foundation analysis of budget warns real earnings will fall and barely rise in next four years
Sunak extends support for self-employed but critics say millions miss out
Chancellor says grants for those whose earnings have been hit by Covid will last until September
The Guardian view on Rishi Sunak’s budget: Britain will go backwards with tax rises and spending cuts
The chancellor would like Britain’s relief response to be seen like Joe Biden’s in the US. But President Biden believes in the power of government, Mr Sunak does not
UK economic growth next year will be fastest since 1948, says OBR
Government’s independent forecaster also says Covid crisis will cost equivalent of £14,000 for every household
‘Super deduction’ is unlikely to be the most effective use of a £25bn tax break
Chancellor’s eye-catching policy could end up rewarding investment that would have happened anyway
Budget 2021: Sunak holds briefing after flagging tax rises to pay for Covid recovery – as it happened
Latest updates: chancellor at No 10 briefing after announcing he’s freezing income tax thresholds and raising corporation tax
Eight freeports with low-tax zones to be created in England
Chancellor says controversial policy for sites including Liverpool and Hull will ‘exemplify future economy’
Rishi Sunak digs in for battle against financial cost of Covid
Analysis: chancellor’s budget sticks with military theme as final reckoning of virus’s impact remains some way off