Skip to content

Dark money think tanks hail ‘full expensing’ measure in autumn statement

Opaquely funded lobbying group claims to be responsible for parts of Jeremy Hunt’s budget, calling it ‘amazing news’

Dark money think tanks hail ‘full expensing’ measure in autumn statement
Former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, a patron of the Adam Smith Institute, has lobbied Jeremy Hunt for so-called 'full expensing' Hunt in the House of Commons | Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Published:

Opaquely funded right-wing think tanks have claimed responsibility for parts of today’s budget, celebrating its announcement as a victory for its lobbying.

Jeremy Hunt unveiled his autumn statement this afternoon, including policies such as a 2% cut to National Insurance, punitive enforcement action for those on disability benefits who do not find work in 18 months, and raising Local Housing Allowance before freezing it again in two years.

A key part of the chancellor’s budget, a policy called ‘full expensing’, means businesses can claim 100% of investment costs such as digital equipment against revenue in the same year, allowing businesses to pay less tax. It was first introduced in spring as a temporary measure but will now be made permanent.