Will Alistair Darling get his way with next week's budget?

Today's announcement that the UK public sector funding deficit was £5 billion less than expected in February, but still heading for a record for the current tax year, has given Alistair Darling a welcome boost ahead of next week's budget. It is known that friction between Number 10 and Number 11 Downing Street continues to this day with Gordon Brown adamant he will continue his spend, spend, spend policy while Alistair Darling looks to reduce public sector spending.

Even though Gordon Brown has been very vocal in his support of further investment into the UK economy and indeed many believe he is pulling the strings in the Treasury there is growing speculation Alistair Darling may well get his "own way" in next week's budget. There is also growing concern that the budget next week will be something of a damp squib because the UK government finances are still in a mess and any blatant giveaway in the budget may be counter-productive at the polls.

Whatever happens with the UK government at the next election there is no doubt this will be Alistair Darling's last budget and indeed many were surprised he has lasted so long bearing in mind the friction with Gordon Brown.