George Osborne is the master of all he surveys… except the economy | Andrew Rawnsley

The chancellor delivered a budgetary masterclass in how to dish your opponents and discomfit your rivals

The envy of rivals is the highest compliment that is paid to political success. Since George Osborne delivered his budget to a rapturous reception from Tory MPs, Boris Johnson has been wearing the tortured smile of a man who has swallowed a wasp and is trying to look happy about it. He was compelled to laugh along when he was the butt of a joke in the chancellor's speech. He had to pretend to approve when a national living wage, one of his pet causes, was appropriated by his competitor for the Tory crown, as the chancellor sought to divert attention from the scythe he was taking to in-work benefits. Overall, the backbencher for Uxbridge and the rest of the Tory party were given a masterclass in what a powerful chancellor can do to disorient his external opponents, eclipse his internal enemies, set the political weather and promote himself.

Interestingly, the green-eyed monster can also be glimpsed at Number 10. Friends of the prime minister sound a little put out that so many plaudits have been showered on the next-door neighbour. They want to establish some ownership of the budget for the prime minister. One of his allies is keen for it to be known that "they built it together from the ground up". David Cameron may also be getting irritated when he hears people say - and this is often said by ministers - that the next-door neighbour is the most powerful man in government.