Gordon Brown’s just told us the Budget is in 2 weeks time – Alistair Darling will later on confirm that 24th March is the date. The Treasury had been getting a bit queasy at orders from No. 10 not to release the date earlier. Gordon Brown wants to work every advantage from what...
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Budget
Brown confirms budget date and frames election debate
As trade figures fall, is there an economic plan C?
The really concerning aspect of today’s trade figures is not that the £8bn deficit in goods trade is an 18 month low. It’s that this figure has occurred over two years after the pound depreciated by 25 per cent. Clearly you would expect to see a boost to exports by now. It is...
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What we’ve learned so far from the Iraq Inquiry
“There’s a wonderful phrase: ‘the Fog of War.’ What the fog of war means is: war is so complex it’s beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend all the variables. Our judgment, our understanding, are not adequate. And we kill people unnecessarily.” Strong words from any lips, stronger still when spoken...
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The business vote exposes the false fiscal fight
The voice of the business lobby, the CBI, has put out a typically helpful budget submission this morning. The organisation seems to be hedging its bets on the election. Yes, the headline of the document is that the deficit needs to be cut more quickly than current government plans, that the budget must...
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Iraq inquiry: Brown sadness at lives lost in ‘right war’
Gordon Brown has left the building. He closed his evidence repeatedly referring to his “sadness” at the lives lost in Iraq . There was no expression of regret. He thought it was the right war entered into for the right reasons, he repeatedly said. Everything he said, he said repeatedly. The families and...
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