If you're after camera gear perhaps.
But seriously, the million people who are losing their jobs before Christmas (possibly me included) are not going to rush out and spend more money, they are actually going to spend the same from the retailer's point of view. VAT does not affect the retailers' profits, they simply collect it and pass it on, all they have now is a mahoosive administrative problem to solve this weekend, effectively losing them money.
Ditto with the base rate, yes my mortgage will go down (at least I got lucky with have a base rate tracker), but I'm not going to spend the difference in the shops, I'm either going to save it or make overpayments in anticipation of needing a payment holiday next year when the going gets tough.
These measures will help soften the recession a bit but it does appear that the result will be a cut in public spending (again, and again, and again, ad infinitum), massive public debt and future taxation (probably stealthy - more speed cameras, road tax increases, tax on fuel or something)
Thanks for the soapbox
