Pensions tax relief and George Osborne's 'ruthless' ambition

Brown's era was a 'golden age for well-heeled pension savers'

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When it comes to pensions the current Chancellor has been just as merciless as his predecessor ever was, writes Sheriar Bradbury. But will George Osborne go all the way on tax relief?

Former Labour Chancellor (and ex PM) Gordon Brown is often demonised for his so-called tax raid on UK pensions of £10bn a year, but compared to the changes being wrought by the current resident of Number 11, he seems generous to a fault. Yes, Brown's abolition of tax relief on dividends will have cost UK pension savers a fair amount of money, but when it comes to high earners that seems like small beer when compared to the changes Osborne has already driven through, let alone what he may unleash in next spring's Budget. Looking back, the Brown era feels like something of a golden age ...

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