George Osborne finds wriggle room to provide budget giveaways

It seems the judgment that the chancellor had no cash to spare for pre-election lollipops may well have been premature

At the time of last December's autumn statement, received wisdom in Westminster was that it marked the last major economic policy milestone before May's general election.

There is no financial room for pre-election giveaways, the logic went; and, anyway, by the time the chancellor stands up at the dispatch box on 18 March, it would be far too late for any to make themselves felt in voters' pockets.