Six facts about the Autumn Statement
1 IT’S not actually in Autumn. In fact it’s in winter. It used to be in November, sort of justifying its title, but since 2003 it has taken place in December.
2 But it’s a bit more catchy than the Pre-Budget Report – Labour’s rather uncreative moniker.
3 Unlike during the Budget, the chancellor does not have the right to quaff an alcoholic drink while relaying his Autumn Statement.
4 This years’ Autumn Statement was supposed to be on 4 December but it was moved back to accommodate Cameron’s China trip – showing just who wears the trousers.
5 The Autumn Statement was actually a child of the seventies – the secondary statement to the Budget was first introduced in 1976.
6 Ken Clarke preferred a Summer Statement to an Autumn Statement back in the 1990s, but it didn’t last…
WHETHER you’re a regular down the bookies or merely enjoy the occasional flutter, hopefully the multifarious gambling opportunities presented by the Autumn Statement will pique your interest. Ladbrokes has given odds on what colour the chancellor’s neck-piece will be – the odds favour blue (evens) or purple (3/1) but The Capitalist is playing for the long odds, Chinese flag at 200/1. If you’re not interested in Osborne’s sartorial selections, perhaps the length of his speech will have you reaching for the betting cards. Odds for under 45 minutes are 6/4, same for over 50 minutes, between 45 and 50 minutes is on for 6/4 (tip: last year’s speech was 47 minutes…).