In fact, if you look through successive budgets, Gordon Brown didn´t even raise the allowances by as much as inflation in his 10 years in No 11.
The German government already tried direct stimulus last year, cutting payroll deductions and raising the allowance parents receive for each child.
For me, raising the allowance is a significant measure, so I'd have looked for a higher increase.
The Macau government routinely gives residents annual "wealth share" cash handouts, raising the allowance this year to 7,000 Macau patacas, or about $875, to try to stem public discontent.
Now, it will hit £10,800 in 2016-17 and £11,000 the year after, contributing £80 to most pay packets.A Liberal Democrat idea, raising the allowance is popular: one poll puts support for it at 83%.
"We are committed as a party, and I am very committed to this, to raising the allowance further such that you pay no income tax equivalent to the minimum wage.
He promised that his own plan to lift the personal allowance in the next parliament to £12,500 could be funded entirely by cracking down on wealthy tax-dodgers, as independent research showed that three-quarters of the cost of raising the allowance would go on the wealthiest half of society.
With all parties struggling to address what Labour leader Ed Miliband has called the "cost of living crisis", Clegg wants to drive home the message that raising the allowance from £6,475 in 2010 to £10,000 by 2014-15, takingy taroundaround half a million people out of income tax altogether, is a Lib Dem rather than a Conservative achievement.
"We are committed as a party - and I am committed to this - to raising the allowance further such that... everybody on the minimum wage pays no income tax".
Alexander also said his party had had to fight tooth and nail at every budget to raise the personal allowance.
