Jim Brooks reflects on the Chancellor's 10th Budget, and efforts to keep public sector spending in check

The big event over the last month was the Budget. It was Gordon Brown's 10th – a record few chancellors can match. The story was of continuity. The culture of stability and strength in the UK economy in an uncertain world. The pattern of low interest rates and low inflation is set to continue, and the GDP growth forecast is also unchanged at between 2% and 2.5% in 2006, and between 2.75% and 3.25% in 2007 and 2008.