Another blow to the Budget’s credibility

The expenses scandal is becoming more depressing all the time. There are no apologies forthcoming and too many politicians want to circle the wagons against any kind of scrutiny. As Jonathan Isaby notes, Theresa May is refusing to say any MP has behaved immorally and is instead “blaming the culture that has grown up in Parliament.” This is a quite shocking denial of the moral agency of the individual, the worst kind of crime is all society’s fault claptrap. As for James Gray, words fail me.    

There are, though, other stories developing that are worth keeping an eye on. The News of the World reports that:

“In a major snub to the Chancellor, boffins at the Bank [of England] will DOWNGRADE their growth forecasts in their Inflation Report on Wednesday.

They will say the economy will shrink by more than four per cent in 2009-not the 3.5