The Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Philip Hammond, gave an off-camera briefing ahead of the Budget yesterday lunchtime. Not quite sure how this squares with Dave’s commitment to the “New Politics“ of openness and transparency or his boss George Osborne’s “open source politics 2.0“ which he said would see a Tory government “become more accountable, more transparent and more accessible – and so bridge the growing gap between government and governed.” Having an off camera briefing in the Lobby room seems less than transparent and rather inaccessible to the governed.

Perhaps he has good reason to explain Tory economic policy out of sight, being too timid to put the case for tax relief for the struggling middle classes and reducing state over-spending. The Tories basically accept that because of the dire fiscal position Chancellor Osborne will stick with Gordon Brown’s tax and spending plans. As we tip towards worldwide recession and a global financial crisis the Tories are advocating “tax hikes on alcopops!” and the LibDems “tax cuts for smoothies!” Pathetically unambitious.