Can we expect a surprise in Jeremy Hunt’s Budget?

The chancellor will want to avoid further fiscal drama, but there could be a sweetener, says Sean O’Grady

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (PA)

Budget day is a great political set-piece, with red-box tradition and ritual mixed with a certain amount of trepidation. This year may be a little different, as Jeremy Hunt, delivering his first formal Budget, has already outlined his strategy for the public finances. Things are getting a little easier for him, as tax revenues have been healthy, but he will still have to confront some tough decisions.

Will there be any surprises?

Modern Budgets get leaked fairly extensively, and the old habit of purdah, whereby Treasury ministers refused all interviews for weeks beforehand, was abandoned some time ago. Hunt has been touring the television studios to try to dampen expectations of any giveaways.