By Jonathan Isaby Despite the fact that the Budget is today, yesterday saw the four-weekly hour of questions to George Osborne and his Treasury team in the Commons. There were a variety of last minute requests from MPs, all of which were met with variations on "wait and see". But during topical questions, Andrew Tyrie, […]
by Paul Goodman George Osborne bested Ed Balls yesterday. But the Treasury team also faced three sharp questions from its own side, which the sketchwriters have duly picked up this morning. Here they are in full, together with the answers. First – "Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) (Con): There is a lot of public […]
Tim Montgomerie Highlights, not verbatim. Ed Balls and George Osborne clashed for the first time as Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor. Mr Balls began by saying it was a privilege to be holding his portfolio at a time of such economic importance. He joked that he was glad he didn’t have a breakfast meeting this morning […]
Tim Montgomerie Highlights, not verbatim. In his statement to the Commons on the Irish bailout George Osborne made it clear that Britain had been at the heart of the negotiations with Ireland about the conditionality for the facility agreed for it. He said there should be no requirement for Dublin to change its corporation tax regime. […]
By Jonathan Isaby After George Osborne's statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review, there was a response by newly-installed shadow chancellor, Alan Johnson – to which the Chancellor himself in turn got the chance to reply. The broadcasters were busy analysing the main statement itself by this stage, but it's worth quoting here some of George […]
The Treasury Questions exchange, as recorded in Hansard. Alan Johnson, the new Shadow Chancellor: "Will the timing of the spending cuts that are to be announced next week be exactly as laid out in June’s emergency Budget, and will the Chancellor confirm that the aim continues to be that the deficit will be eliminated by […]
By Paul Goodman Peter Hoskins has posted a brief account on the Spectator's Coffee House site about this morning's Treasury Select Committee appearance by George Osborne. The Chancellor promised to allow the committee to approve his proposed new appointments to the Office of Budget Responsibility – thereby giving them the power to veto his suggestions […]
Yesterday saw day two of the Budget debate, with George Osborne opening for the Opposition in a chamber virtually bereft of Labour and Lib Dem MPs. The Shadow Chancellor gave a tour-de-force with some lots of attacks on the Government and some good jokes, beginning with some teasing of his absent opposite number… "I welcome […]
The debate on the Second Reading of the Government's FIscal Responsibility Bill – the one which would put a duty on the Government to halve the budget deficit into legislation – was far shorter than it normally would have been due to a series of statements at the beginning of business. It was not until […]