An expensive way to bail out Bottler

The personal allowances change to make millions of people better off in an attempt to undo Gordon Brown's damage in scrapping the 10p starting rate of tax is, on the face of it, a generous move.

But, it is to be paid for by the Government borrowing £2.7billion, an expensive gesture which will be added to the tally for this "boom and bust" administration.

We should be thankful for small mercies, but the questions into the Government's handling of fiscal affairs will continue long after the votes have been counted in next week's Crewe & Nantwich by-election.