15 March 2023 , 10:52
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As Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announces the budget today, many people will be left wondering how it impacts them in real terms.
Mr Hunt is set to address energy bills in today's budget by confirming the Energy Price Guarantee will be extended until June instead of April, keeping the average household bill at £2,500 for another three months. He's also due to announce that from July, more than four million pre-payment meter customers will no longer be charged more for their energy than direct debit households.
There's also big news to come in childcare, as the Chancellor will announce an additional £4 billion for free childcare for one-and-two-year-olds in England, on top of plans to give primary school children access to breakfast clubs and extra after-school provision.
The Chancellor prepares ahead of the Spring Budget (Zara Farrar/HM Treasury)But in further tax breaks for the rich, the lifetime pensions allowance is expected to raise from £1.07 million to £1.8 million, meaning those with significant savings can put aside even more cash before they have to start paying tax on their pensions.
While there is some welcome news in today's budget, the Chancellor is no stranger to awkward political blunders, from spending £44,000 on a toilet and shower in his office to his bizarre feud with Stephen Hawking over NHS costs.
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Mr Hunt previously made a big blunder in 2018, where he seemed to temporarily forget where his wife was from, referring to her as Japanese.
Jeremy Hunt and his wife Lucia got married in 2009 (PA)During his time as Foreign Secretary from 2018 to 2019 under Theresa May, he bizarrely made a mistake when discussing the nationality of his wife, leaving onlookers confused.
On a visit to China in an official capacity as Foreign Secretary, he referred to his Chinese wife as "Japanese" while talking to a member of the Chinese government.
Mr Hunt and his wife Lucia Guo got married in 2009 in a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony.
Speaking to Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, Mr Hunt said: "My wife is Japanese – my wife is Chinese. That's a terrible mistake to make.
"My wife is Chinese and my children are half-Chinese and so we have Chinese grandparents who live in Xi'an and strong family connections in China."
Mr Hunt has previously described Ms Guo as someone who "gives as good as she gets" as well as the "sparkler" in his and his family's lives. They have three children together – Jack, Anna, and Eleanor.
When Mr Hunt ran for the Tory leadership in 2019, he branded his wife a "great diplomatic weapon".
He added: "I am very lucky that I have a wife with a great Chinese sense of humour. She has been a great diplomatic weapon for the UK, striking up friendships with partners of other foreign ministers."