Not a payment of £10000 he said in a manner reminiscent of

“Not a payment of £10,000,” he said, in a manner reminiscent of that old Tarrant trick of delayed and therefore enhanced gratification, “but £20,000.” As the schools got bigger, the sums became more impressive. There will be heads out there running economies bigger than some Third World countries soon.Yet in all that time, the Chancellor had not smiled once. Not even that smile of his that is like the grill on the front of an armoured car. There was no triumph here, no visible sign of self-conscious courtship – sometimes, when you’re wooing, it’s sensible not to show people your election No. This was not the performance (I thought, pace Marr) of a lover, but of that man much more sought after by young women. This was the performance of a wise, older husband-to-be, of a Mr Knightley rather than a Mr Darcy “Take me,” he was saying. “I am stern and kind; rugged, slightly ruined and weathered by service.

But I understand the needs of children and the needs of women almost better than they do themselves.”Once upon a time, many women voted as their husbands did But now it’s the other way around. All the children of Britain are Gordon’s children, and all the young women are his young women. Tony Blair may be a father and the Prime Minister, but Gordon is Big Daddy, paterfamilias of the nation So he didn’t need to smile – yet. When he becomes PM, then he can walk with his offspring in the cornfields.david.aaronovitch btinternet . It was a very short Budget speech, but that was hardly surprising In economic terms, this was an unnecessary Budget.

The Chancellor was only dealing in marginal policy changes; the spending and tax measures that he announced yesterday will effect no more than 1 per cent of the nation’s income. It was a very short Budget speech, but that was hardly surprising In economic terms, this was an unnecessary Budget. The Chancellor was only dealing in marginal policy changes; the spending and tax measures that he announced yesterday will effect no more than 1 per cent of the nation’s income.
But Gordon Brown is well aware of that. This was not an economic Budget; it was an electioneering Budget – indeed, a two elections Budget. The Chancellor wants to help Labour to win the general election.