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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

Analysis: France pursues smarter spending

Podcast: Full summary and analysis