Budget 2014: full text of George Osborne’s speech

Mr Deputy Speaker,

I can report today that the economy is continuing to recover – and recovering faster than forecast.

We set out our plan.

And together with the British people, we held our nerve.

We’re putting Britain right.

But the job is far from done.

Our country still borrows too much.

We still don’t invest enough, export enough or save enough.

So today we do more to put that right.

This is a Budget for building a resilient economy.

If you’re a maker, a doer or a saver: this Budget is for you.

It is all part of a long term economic plan – a plan that is delivering security for the people of this country.

I have never shied away from telling the British people about the difficult decisions we face.