COVERITLIVE.COM

12:07

Joanna Geary - Welcome to Times Online's live Budget coverage.

12:08

Joanna Geary - Here we bring you all the analysis of what is to be the most important Budget for a decade.

12:10

Joanna Geary - Commentary will be provided by our expert team: Deputy Business Editor Ian King, economics correspondent Grainne Gilmore and personal finance editor Andrew Ellson.

12:10

Joanna Geary - And I (business development editor Joanna Geary) will be coordinating your questions and comments.

12:11

[Comment From Chris]
Hi All...I dont anticipate that its going to be a particularly exciting budget today....damned if he does damned if he doesnt scenario.

12:15

Joanna Geary - As a recap, here is Alistair Darling's Youtube message in the run up to the Budget today.

12:25

Andrew Ellson -

Good afternoon and welcome everyone. We are looking forward to a fascinating Budget statement today.

12:25

[Comment From Cronan]
Like most Labour budgets, some of the nastiness will only become apparent a day later - remember 10%?

12:25

[Comment From Cronan]
No coverage of pre-budget PMQs here?

12:26

Grainne Gilmore - Good afternoon, the house of commons is packed, waiting for the start of the budget

12:27

Joanna Geary - Cronan, you can watch a livestream of the PMQs here: http://www.twofourdigital.net/CabinetOffice/01.asx

12:27

Joanna Geary - We will be focusing on the budget and on providing the most comprehensive online post-budget analysis.

12:33

Grainne Gilmore -

The Chancellor is keen to outline the global nature of the recession

12:33

Andrew Ellson - The Chancellor starts his Budget in a reserved tone, saying how the Government is working to avoid the policy mistakes of the 1930s.

12:34

Grainne Gilmore - Mr Darling says there are good grounds for confidence... that's quite a statement given the expected public finance figures, but perhaps he's talking about green shoots.
He expects economy to start growing again at end of year

12:34

Grainne Gilmore - A little history of the credit crunch now - pointing finger at US

12:35

Andrew Ellson - Optimitic assesment that the economy will start growing again before the end of this year. Many economists will disagree with that analysis...

12:35

Grainne Gilmore - CBI and ITEM see no recovery til spring next year

12:35

[Comment From Chris]
Joanna, do you expect any major announcments today?

12:35

[Comment From Cronan]
Thanks Joanna, the beeb one is OK too - http://bit.ly/bCprB

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