Mumbling Schoolboy in Charge of the Finances ; a Small Notebook Is a Must-Have for Budget Day. All the Ultra-Keen Mps Have One. Some Made Jottings with Ornate Fountain Pens, Others the Mini-Biros Which 'Accidentally' Walk Out of Argos. The Less Optimistic Use a Pencil, in Case the Chancellor Is Forced to Downgrade His Forecasts Mid-Sentence.

Summary

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A small notebook is a must-have for Budget day. All the ultra- keen MPs have one. Some made jottings with ornate fountain pens, others the mini-biros which "accidentally" walk out of Argos. The less optimistic use a pencil, in case the Chancellor is forced to downgrade his forecasts mid-sentence.

Most MPs were likely compiling their last-minute shopping list: Buy fags before tea-time, a crate of beer by midnight and a one-way ticket to tax-free Lichtenstein.

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Extract

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Mumbling Schoolboy in Charge of the Finances ; a Small Notebook Is a Must-Have for Budget Day. All the Ultra-Keen Mps Have One. Some Made Jottings with Ornate Fountain Pens, Others the Mini-Biros Which 'Accidentally' Walk Out of Argos. The Less Optimistic Use a Pencil, in Case the Chancellor Is Forced to Downgrade His Forecasts Mid-Sentence.

Frankly, Alistair Darling's second Budget was so mind-numbingly dull, so bereft of verbal flourish or vot...

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