With March 24 now announced as Budget Day,
accountants have called on the next government to avoid uncertainty
by fixing the dates of future budgets.

Baker Tilly, which has offices in Tunbridge Wells, has dismissed Budget Day uncertainty as "no way to run a country."

It says that year after year, irrespective of the party in
power, there is too much political influence on the choice of
Budget date.

This causes uncertainty "right up to the last minute" as to when
the Chancellor of the Exchequer will present his Budget
Statement.

George Bull, head of tax at Baker Tilly, says this announcement
is far too important to be subject to these vagaries. "In the
aftermath of financial crisis, when the UK faces its largest fiscal
deficit ever, surely this is no way to run a country?"

He admits that the timing of General Elections changes things
but says one of the first acts of the new government should be to
commit to a definite timetable for Pre-Budget Reports and Budget
Statements.

Mr Bull has also hit out at the lack of a clear indication about
the Government's fiscal plans, and is sceptical that suggestions by
the various bodies consulted by the Treasury before a Budget will
be heeded.

"There is no comfort that the views of individuals, businesses
and professional bodies, as reflected in the very large number of
consultations undertaken by HMRC and the Treasury, will be acted
on."