In the next few days, ministers will roll out detailed announcements.A formal election role for Mr Brown is likely to be announced soon as well. There have been some tense negotiations over his precise remit. His supporters believe Mr Blair has allowed too many cooks – including Mr Milburn, his deputy David Miliband and Downing Street aides – to think they are in charge of the election campaign. So the Chancellor is demanding a clearer chain of decision-making as well as a clearly defined role.Mr Blair and Mr Brown will unveil a poster together today and Labour strategists hope that a “strong team approach” will play better to the public than Mr Blair’s presidential-style campaign to date.The Budget is also a critical moment because it defines what the battle lines are between Labour and the Tories. Without him, Labour has struggled to make the economy an issue.

The voters have pocketed the stability the Government has delivered since 1997 but is in no mood to thank Mr Blair. This may prove a pivotal moment in the general election campaign. Now Gordon Brown is back, Tony Blair will want to keep him centre stage. There is a black hole in the public finances that will have to be addressed by higher taxes or slower spending growth.”.

Hosting the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in London would provide a major impetus for young people in Britain.”Ruth Lea, Director, Centre for Policy Studies”Yet more dissembling about finances. After several helpful redefinitions by the ONS, the Chancellor will probably meet his ‘golden rule’ for the economic cycle But that is not the point. But the £400m allotted for the war in Iraq would have been better spent here, on the elderly and the poor.”Lord Coe, Chairman of London 2012″I welcome Gordon Brown’s words today that ‘winning the Olympics for Britain in 2012 would itself be a major boost to British sport and the British economy’. I am interested in what the detail is in the announcements for international development. I want to see what the actual matter of it is rather than the rhetoric.”Iqbal Sacranie, Muslim Council of Britain”I was pleased to see the Chancellor’s continuing support for the development of regulations for shariah-compliant financial products, as well as VAT relief for the renovation of religious buildings.

It doesn’t seem to release the burden of extreme poverty for the poor. This Budget is all about massive amounts of borrowing, while he is only able to make small gifts to the electorate. Things like giving pensioners a £200 discount on council tax is not going to solve anything in the long run – the whole system needs to be looked at.”Tony Juniper, Director, Friends of the Earth”There is not a great deal in here to welcome. We weren’t surprised – it is a pre-election Budget and the Chancellor isn’t going to do dramatic things in controversial areas, such as fuel duty. We take on board what he said on climate change inside economic policy. We look forward to more progress.”Malcolm Hurlston, Chairman, Consumer Credit Counselling Service”I was pleased to see the increase in child tax credits. Our research shows that this credit is well targeted, improves the lives of many people in debt, bringing them motivation and, in some cases, release.

I would have liked the Chancellor to go further with this incentive.”Susie Orbach, Writer and social commentator”The Budget seems pretty neutral It doesn’t seem to be dramatic or bold. Further help is needed, especially for parents of children with disabilities and those with the youngest children.”Anthony Scrivener , QC”Gordon Brown is trying to hide massive debt. What he has offered is not going to amount to much difference for very many people. Neither party seems to be prepared to rethink in a major way.