Lassitude lapped at Westminster’s doors. Little else stirred. John Healey was on his hooves for the greatest moment of his life and it had all the dramatic bite of cotton wool.
Labour MPs gazed at their mobile telephones, rubbed their ears or, in the case of Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil), sat like rigid Buddhas. Richard Baker (Glenrothes & Mid Fife) leaned back, eyes closed, pointing his head to the ceiling. He yawned, terribly, chewing the air as if it were a slice of watermelon.
Has there ever been a Chancellor so lacking in oompf?
This Budget had all the cha-cha-cha of siesta hour
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