Pre-Budget Report – Web grab

Here’s what papers and bloggers are saying about Alistair Darling’s Pre-Budget Report.

The Guardian had a good rolling blog on the Pre-Budget report. So, if you missed all the drama, here’s what happened, as it happened.

Phillip Webster of the Times argues that after yet another broken promise from Mr Brown (this time about raising taxes,) New Labour is becoming very old hat.

The Times also has a rather handy questionnaire on the PBR, not that it’ll ever get to Mr. Darling.

The FT is concerned about how exactly Mr. Darling plans to pay back £120bn. That’s billion.

The Telegraph claims that an increase in national insurance will help fill some of Mr. Darling’s alarmingly empty coffers.

The Mail asks what all the fuss is about: our country’s books will be balanced by 2016. That’s alright then.

The Mail also features the headaches a VAT cut is likely to give retailers. Apparently they’re a bit miffed. Oh no they’re not, says the Guardian.

The Mirror’s Kevin Maguire reckons that 45p in the pound is not enough for Britain’s wealthiest to pay.

Fraser Nelson on the Spectator’s Coffee House blog argues that since the top 1% of earners already provide almost a quarter of all income tax, they already give quite enough, thank you.

Sunder Katwala on the Fabian Society’s blog goes further. He reckons that the 45p tax band will prove so popular, even the nasty Tories won’t oppose it.

The Conservative’s blog warns about increased government borrowing, as if we didn’t know.

And good ol’ safe hands Vince Cable agrees with Labour’s assertion that urgent action is needed. He’d just like to know exactly how such action will be affordable.