Budget week is off to a roaring start as Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle apologises for how terrible the speculation and kite-flying has been. Many commentators say it is the worst-ever Budget process…
Kyle told Times Radio:
“I’m not apologising on behalf of the people who are reporting on the speculation because that would be absurd. What I can apologise for is the fact that there has been so much speculation. I understand that it’s a distraction, but it is speculation and the reporting of such.”
The blame game has already erupted over idiotic levies mooted by the Treasury. Resolution Foundation ‘svengalis’ Torsten Bell and Minouche Shafik are under fire in the Times yesterday:
‘“It was those two who were behind the exit tax,” says one of the sources. “Rachel pushed back every time.”
Government insiders complain that the budget process was overly influenced by the Resolution Foundation, via Bell and Shafik. “This is the Resolution Foundation’s budget,” says the source. “This is an experiment in letting those people run riot.”’
When the fallout from the Budget gets bad enough Reeves will have to find someone to take the hit. Ask not for whom the bell tolls…
