Brown bullish on economy
Gordon Brown has delivered what is widely expected to be his last Budget speech and has given an upbeat verdict on the British economy.The chancellor is widely expected to have stepped up to the dispatch box for the 11th time today, ahead of what is looking increasingly likely to be a clear road to the Labour leadership.And in his opening comments this lunchtime, Mr Brown delivered a glowing verdict of his time in charge of the country's finances and made reference to where he expected to be this time next year."Only one chancellor until now has delivered 11 Budgets and then a 12th," Mr Brown said in the Commons."And that was when William Gladstone combined the role of prime minister and chancellor â€" something no-one should ever contemplate again." Mr Brown told MPs that Britain's economy was growing faster than all other G7 countries and predicted this growth will continue into next year "and beyond"."Before 1997 we were bottom in the G7 for national income per head - seventh out of seven, behind Germany, Italy, France, Canada and Japan," he said."Now we are second only to America and ahead of all these countries."Mr Brown said the current rate of inflation, which yesterday increased to 2.8 per cent, was on target and "will fall further this year to two per cent".Inflation has "never gone beyond three per cent" during the last ten years, Mr Brown added, although he responded to heckles from the House by accepting that was on one specific index."Since 1997 inflation has averaged 1.5 per cent, half that of the previous decade," the chancellor continued."And after examining the historical records, it is Britain's best inflation performance for a century."The chancellor went on to give a positive prediction for the future on inflation, employment and growth and predicted confidently: "We will not return to the old boom and bust".
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