Ed Miliband, for the Opposition, gave such an over-the-top performance that it is hard to imagine him ever being entrusted with the prime ministership.

It is hard to think of any other politician who, a moment after indicating that he has decided to abolish the 50 pence tax rate, would say the words: “We are all in this together.”
How Labour roared at this remark. A wave of derisive laughter broke over Mr Osborne. He remained unmoved, just as we are confident that he will remain unmoved should he ever find himself consigned to the guillotine by a mob of north London lefties during the early days of the Miliband terror.
We would like to apologise to Mr Osborne for the words that follow. It is unkind to reveal someone’s guilty secret, but this column cannot shrink from telling the truth about the Chancellor. This Budget was not the work of an evil, upper-class sex maniac, but of a prudent, middle-class accountant who has gone through the nation’s books and reached some sober conclusions about what can be done to get us back on an even keel. As Mr Osborne himself admitted in a rare moment of candour: “This is a Budget built on sound money.”
Hence Ken Clarke’s slumber, or seeming slumber. The Justice Secretary knew this was a safe Budget filled with undramatic measures. There was no need for him to bother himself with the details.
Less experienced politicians preferred to take Mr Osborne at face value and to treat him as a madman. Ed Miliband, for the Opposition, gave such an over-the-top performance that it is hard to imagine him ever being entrusted with the prime ministership.