生活成本支持，尤其是能源账单方面的支持，以及关于下放权力的宣布，将成为约翰·希利首份预算案的核心内容。
Support on the cost of living, and in particular energy bills, as well as announcments on devolution will be central to John Healey's first Budget.
文/克里斯·梅森 财政大臣和首相的两句引言直击本次预算案的核心。
By Chris Mason Two quotes from the chancellor and the prime minister get to the heart of this Budget.
“新工党在90年代拥有的资金现在根本不存在了……英国现在的处境更艰难，”财政大臣约翰·希利上个月表示。
"The money New Labour had in the 90s is simply not there now….Britain has it harder now," the Chancellor, John Healey, said last month.
而在安迪·伯纳姆成为首相前几天，他说：“这一变革……是我们政治领域40年来最重要的变革时刻。” 那么，当经济现实撞上这届新政府的政治雄心，会发生什么？
And from Andy Burnham, days before he became prime minister: "This change...is the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years." So what happens when the economic realities confront the political ambitions of this new government?
正如财政研究所（IFS）所长海伦·米勒所言：“我们有一个相对新的政府，看似雄心勃勃，却面临着一长串制约。
As Helen Miller, director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), puts it: "We have a relatively new government with seemingly big ambitions but facing a long list of constraints.
“其中一些制约……是自我设定的，另一些则因全球事件而加剧，最显著的是中东战争。” 须知，威斯敏斯特各党派都有不少人会说，资金多寡并非一切——纳税人的钱花得好不好、花在何处同样关键。也有许多人主张，少花钱、少收税应当是优先事项。
"Some of those constraints…are self imposed, others are being worsened by global events, most noticeably war in the Middle East." Let's be clear, plenty in Westminster in all parties will say that the amount of money around isn't everything – how well taxpayers' money is spent and where it is spent matters too. And spending less and taxing less, plenty argue, should be a priority.
但工党许多人的骨子里有一种本能：政府、国家能够而且应该成为推动变革、改善民生的关键力量——这是一种世界观，认为政府应当自豪地挺身而出，而非认为政府应当退居一旁。
But in the bones of many in the Labour Party is an instinct that the government, the state, can and should be a vital agent in driving change and improvements in people's lives – a worldview grounded in a sense that governments should proudly step in, rather than one that believes they should get out of the way.
当税负处于世代高位、国家债务高企、能源账单上涨、通胀超预期之时，如何打造一个自豪地主动作为、以民众切实可感的方式为民众服务的国家？简而言之：这并不容易。但部长们辩称，这一切并不意味着政府无能为力。
And how do you deliver a proudly proactive state, delivering for people in a noticeable way, when the tax burden is generationally high, the national debt is sky high, energy bills are rising and inflation is higher than expected? In short: it is not easy. But ministers argue all of this doesn't mean the government is powerless.
许多人预期，生活成本援助，尤其是能源账单补助，将精准惠及最脆弱群体。银行业已做好准备，应对可能出现的税费或附加费，以此为援助提供资金。
Many are expecting support on the cost of living, and in particular energy bills, to be targeted at the most vulnerable. The banks are braced for a levy or surcharge that may pay for this.
政府将宣布增加国防开支，但尚未说明如何在2030年前实现将国民收入的3%用于国防开支的目标——这将在明年的支出审查中公布。
There will be an announcement about further spending on defence, but not yet how spending 3% of national income on our security will be delivered by 2030 – that will come in next year's Spending Review.
首相的核心主张之一——将权力从威斯敏斯特下放、更贴近民众，即权力下放——也将成为本次预算的重头戏。
And one of the prime minister's key ideas - handing power away from Westminster and closer to you, devolution - will be central too.
财相在BBC《Newscast》节目中表示，将实施“切实激进的权力与资源下放，赋予往往更有利条件跳出部门体制束缚的地方领导人权力”。但威斯敏斯特内部有人担忧，给市长及其他地方政府的额外资金，尚未配套足够的制衡机制，以确保资金用得其所。
There will be, the chancellor told BBC Newscast, a "really radical devolution of powers and resources to local leaders that are often better placed to get beyond the departmental systems." But some at Westminster fret extra money for mayors and others in local government are not yet accompanied by adequate checks and balances to ensure that money is well spent.
财相将主张经济正变得更加稳健——的确，一些经济指标比预期更乐观：增长超预期，生产率亦然，失业率下降。
The chancellor will argue the economy is becoming more robust – and yes, there are some economic indicators that are more positive than forecast: growth is better than expected, as is productivity and unemployment is down.
但决议基金会智库指出：“约翰·希利面临的问题是，中东冲突再次推高了能源价格和利率。
But as the Resolution Foundation think tank points out: "John Healey's problem is that conflict in the Middle East has once again pushed up energy prices and interest rates.
“因此，尽管有迹象显示英国经济正变得更有韧性，但家庭和公共财政将面临另一轮冲击。” 实质上，与近年来的某些预算案相比，在税收和支出变动的规模上，我们预计这将是一个规模较小的预算案。
"So, despite the signs that the UK economy is becoming more resilient, household and public finances are in for another shock." In essence, we can expect a smaller Budget this time, compared to some in recent years, when it comes to the scale of tax and spending changes.
财相一直在宣示提供“喘息空间”和“希望”的愿望——这隐含承认，鉴于面临的制约，政府能作为的空间有限。
The chancellor has been talking up a desire to offer "breathing space" and "hope" - a tacit acknowledgement that there is a limit to what the government can do given the constraints it faces.
政府承诺不增收所得税、国民保险金或增值税，正如财政研究所所言，这是自我设限。此外，还有超出其控制的国际性制约因素。
It has promised not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, a self imposed constraint, as the IFS put it. And there are the international ones beyond its control too.
对许多人来说，最大的问题是，这份预算案是否——或者说能否——足以应对当前的局势？反对党将主张这仅仅是小修小补。
The big question for many will be whether the Budget is – or can be - big enough to meet the moment? Opposition parties will argue it amounts to tinkering.
政府将试图让你相信，这只是未来几周几个月中众多时刻之一，这些时刻将致力于兑现首相承诺的那种规模的变革。
The government will try to convince you it is one of many moments in the coming weeks and months that will attempt to deliver the scale of change the prime minister has promised.
