Self-employed hit by 2017 Budget tax rise and duty raised on beer

Chancellor Philip Hammond has increased National Insurance bills for self-employed people in his first Budget - leading to accusations he has broken a manifesto pledge not to raise taxes.

There was also £2bn for social care services in England, and help for firms hit by business rate rises.

On the economy he said growth was expected to be higher - and borrowing lower - than forecast in November.

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I think the headline ought to be ''Scheming Tories Break Manifesto Pledge''.

What else did we expect from them though, seriously?  The rich have always looked after the rich and been more than happy to rob the poor and nothing has changed.  This latest budget demonstrates that quite eloquently.

No, don''t tax the people with the money or make their pursuits and pleasures more expensive.  Instead let''s hit the working man who enjoys a pint.  Make it difficult for the pubs to stay open so that they have to close and the community no longer has a heart.  Then penalise those little people brave enough to strike out on their own and start a little business.  It might not seem like much, but when you''re self employed every penny counts.  When you''ve got plenty of cash in the bank and can pay the right people to help you dodge the taxes it''s a different matter!

It''s a perfect post-brexit budget and absolutely predictable coming from the cosy old boys club who benefited most from being tied to the corrupt EU.

Nice try, but we''re not going to roll over.  Just wait until the next general election and by the way, we''re not taking on that traitor Corbyn because he''s as clueless as the rest of you!

By: Downtrodden, but not finished