No amount of flannel by Jeremy Hunt can disguise the dire state of the economy after more than a decade of Tory rule.
The Chancellor claimed that he had crafted a Budget for growth. The reality is Britain remains in the economic slow lane, with GDP to shrink this year, living standards falling and taxes set to reach a post-war high.
For the UK to once again be an economic powerhouse requires major rebuilding. But the insipid and uninspiring Budget only offered a few botched repairs from the same cowboy builders responsible for the major damage.
Support for childcare and action on pre-payment meters are welcome but Mr Hunt deserves no credit for tackling issues which his government has had 13 years to resolve.
Above all, the Chancellor failed to address the crisis in our public services, refusing to find any extra money for nurses and teachers.
This was an opportunity to restore fairness and create an economy that works for all.
It was an opportunity squandered by a party which has run out of ideas and run out of road.
Cost of failure
In the 1950s Britain had one of the longest life expectancies in the world.
Now we are ranked 29th in the league table of nations. It is not a coincidence we have dropped 10 places since the Conservatives came to power in 2010.
Life expectancy is determined by your access to health and leisure facilities, the quality of housing, diet and the environment.
The Tories have failed to invest in the NHS and cut spending on public health services.
At the same time millions are living in homes riddled with damp and mould.
People are paying for years of Tory failure with their lives.
Riding high
As the world’s tallest jockey, Jack Andrews is hoping to scale new heights when he competes at Cheltenham today.
But the 6ft 4in rider may find winning the race a tall order.
