Budget analysis - papers 18 March

The FT says chancellor Gordon Brown has set up the battle lines between Labour and the Tories ahead of the next General Election. And by committing to cutting Whitehall budgets, the chancellor has boxed his opponents into a corner from which they cannot come out unless they promise even more public sector job cuts, which would probably undermine the ability of departments to deliver services. The Daily Telegraph says whatever the chancellor has done, it is costing the country an extra £1.5bn a week in taxes compared to when Labour came to power in 1997. The main culprits are highe...