Even without the coronavirus situation, this would have been one of the most remarkable Budgets in post-war history on the basis of its immediate political context as well as era-defining content.
Paradoxically, it is also a Budget that leaves precious little to political chance. Much of what was outlined in the course of the chancellor’s ‘get it done’ spiel has been parked to July’s Spending Review and a fair bit of contentious tax-raising has been quietly parked for at least a year.
Certainly, there’s nothing at first glance as potentially foot-shooting as paying extra for heating pasties.
