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[/audioplayer]George Osborne used to tell his aides to prepare every budget as if it were their last: to throw in all of their best and boldest ideas. But this week, the Chancellor has opted for political as well as fiscal retrenchment. This was a cautious budget. Its emphasis on infrastructure was as laudable as it was uncontroversial. There were few hostages to parliamentary fortune, which is sensible given the Tories’ small majority and the way in which the EU referendum is challenging party discipline.
British government is on hold. Ever since Cameron struck his EU deal he has done little else but make the case for it. Even pro-EU ministers complain how difficult it has been to claim a spot on the government grid for anything unrelated to the referendum. Loyalist Tory MPs have urged No. 10 to put some other issues on the agenda and give the party something — anything — else to talk about.
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