UK Budget 2008 - Comment
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Editorial Comment: Darling crosses his fingers
Alistair Darling‘s speech was devoid of significant fiscal changes – worse would have been changes predicated on the basis of the UK sailing through the global slowdown
John Plender: Upheavals sideline chancellor
No working group could hope to crack the real problem, which is that risk is being repriced across the world, writes John Plender
Families’ need for radical change is clear
Raising the living standard of families requires more drastic changes, including more low-cost housing, a less complex benefits system and a boost to parents’ skills
Jonathan Guthrie: Why the ‘whatever’ speech is welcome
This was a Budget of busy foolishness, a few millions for favoured causes failing to distract from its lack of daring or direction, writes, Jonathan Guthrie
Comment: Honesty is Darling’s best policy
Faced with a tough Budget next week, the chancellor should tighten fiscal policy, and clarify the British government’s strategy, writes Chris Giles
What should be in the Budget
Political parties, business and workers associations, tax firms and environmental groups set out their wishlists for the chancellor
Measures to cut children in poverty by 250,000
The government’s drive towards halving child poverty by 2010 formed the centrepiece of the chancellor’s announcements on social policy
Willem Buiter and Anne Sibert: This delivery felt like being beaten with a sweaty sock
Alistair Darling’s inaugural Budget was a hodgepodge of platitudes, half-measures and pre-announcements of things that could happen, say Willem Buiter and Anne Sibert
Nick Timmins: Dull and determined approach
Across great swaths of the public sector, the government has plenty of policy. What it must do now is implement it, writes Nick Timmins
Speech lacking secrets and light on soundbites
People said this Budget speech might be a bit boring. They said Alistair Darling would have very little worth saying and that he would say it in a pedestrian manner. Well, they were wrong
