Tomorrow's front page: Shirkin' Workin' Gherkin thesun.co.uk/money/40841810/…

Chancellor John Healey DOWNS a pint just hours after his Budget

We were promised a “steady as she goes” Budget, and that is largely what John Healey delivered. Given that Britain is sailing towards an economic iceberg, this should not be cause for comfort. The Chancellor largely steered to the same heading set by his predecessors - on course for higher taxes, spending, and debt. But a crunch IS coming. The question is, will this be before or after an election? Analysis 👇 thesun.co.uk/news/40838057/l…

"The Prime Minister came in promising to reverse 40 years of neoliberalism. Instead, we got 4p off gherkins." Tbf a very good line from Badenoch

Worth a try

It's worth remembering that stealth taxes will still be at the heart of this Budget They represent the biggest tax rise in history Income tax thresholds have been frozen now since 2021 and are due to remain frozen until April 2031 The cumulative freezes of freezing thresholds and allowances is expected to raise ***£67billion*** by 2030/31 The higher rate - which was once the preserve of the rich - is now the norm for millions of people By 2030/31 5.2million people will have been brought into paying income tax, there will be 4.8million more higher rate taxpayers and 600,000 more additional rate taxpayers A ***quarter*** of taxpayers will be higher rate or additional rate taxpayers We've reached the stage where this huge tax raid is almost priced in every year, but it is far more significant than any other tax-raising measure on the scorecard Paul Johnson, a former head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said: "We are talking many, many billions of pounds of tax rises over the decade. People who would 20 years ago have never imagined they would be higher-rate taxpayers are now higher-rate taxpayers."

Some industry types still "calling" for various policies at 5.30pm on the eve of the Budget. Bit late in the day chaps...

In response to Martina's story, the Cabinet Office said taxpayers should be grateful this jaunt wasn't even more expensive! They claimed £33k for a staff retreat was a bargain...

EXCL: Civil Service mandarins splashed out £33,000 of taxpayer cash on a staff retreat at a luxury country house. Thirty senior public sector chiefs spent four days at the historic Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire that boasts a swimming pool, spa and tennis courts. But the Cabinet Office tried to insist the public should be grateful the leadership jaunt was not even more expensive! thesun.co.uk/news/40826859/c…

🔴Picking up some unhappiness from Labour MPs about Andy Burnham's words on freedom of movement at last night's PLP with Lucy Powell I'm told the education secretary was pressed on why the argument was being rehashed given how divisive it was for parliament during the referendum and in subsequent years. I understand she told MPs that debates around Brexit needed to be handled sensitively - and that she "remembers the days" of Brexit division One MP tells me: "She held the line but seemed as bemused as anyone."

EXCL: Chancellor set to freeze fuel duty and keep 5p discount at Budget With @ryansabey thesun.co.uk/money/40816201/…

The HP Sauce product placement is too much... why is there a bottle by the cookbooks?

Interesting difference between the PM and his Home Secretary over Brexit and small boats. Andy Burnham today blamed the crisis on Britain losing its EU returns agreement after Brexit but Shabana Mahmood has previously rejected that argument. She told the Home Affairs Committee in February: "I am sure there are lots of other debates to be had about the rights and wrongs of Brexit, but is Brexit responsible for the boats? I do not think that is true... “The idea that this has happened because we have lost the access to Dublin and the returns agreement with the EU - I think that is too much of a stretch.” In September, she went further, arguing that under Britain's one-in, one-out deal with France “more returns have happened than ever was the case under the Dublin arrangements, when we were still members of the EU". She also warned that it was “a mistake to see the EU’s new pact as some sort of new silver bullet” that would eliminate Britain's migration problems.

Nobody sensible is saying "nothing is happening". But many people are frustrated when they see French police standing idly while small boat migrants rush into the water to make a highly dangerous journey across the Channel.