Reader TTS

Probably a cheap holiday too if you play your cards right, also subbed by the Chancellor.

Of course it's the tenner off a pizza and a prosecco which will make all the best headlines but even by the measure of the bizarre days we are going through, Rishi Sunak's mini budget is

cause for a sharp intake of breath.

As statements go it's as bold and unambiguous as it gets. As he took to the despatch box the Chancellor had all the calculated cool of a Las Vegas gambler convinced he could beat the house

and it became clear he is prepared to throw money – undreamed of amounts of money – at the problem of jump-starting Britain's economy.

So say farewell then to austerity, sayonara to traditional Conservative belt-tightening, and hello to the era of the distinctly left-feeling free lunch.

Just look at what Dishy Rishi was handing out:

A massive cut in the hated stamp duty – freeing properties up to £500,000 from the blanket tax, and saving buyers tens of thousands;

Slashing VAT to 5% to help the holiday and hospitality industry;

£1000 to firms to keep on unfuloughed workers – paid till 2021;

A £3.7BILLION scheme offering 'decent' jobs and apprenticeships for 16-24-year-olds.

It's textbook New Dealism as promised by Boris last week – healthy economies need money to move from one place to another. Cash sat stagnating as it has been for months spells financial

doom.

But at some point the ferryman needs paying. And for all of Boris's upbeat New Dealism there's a growing sense of heads being stuck in the sand over this.

The measures will cost around £30BILLION – which brings, as the Chancellor told us, the cost of the bailout to £160billion.

These are what economists call humungous sums and leave Britain on target for a record a deficit of more than £300billion this year – twice the level seen at the height of the 2008 financial

crisis.

DON'T MISSAndrew Neil points out major flaw in Rishi Sunak's plans [INSIGHT]Commons erupts in laughter as Labour's Dodds responds to Sunak budget [VIDEO]Sunak shows Tories learnt mistakes

under Thatcher says MACER HALL [COMMENT]

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It is a sobering thought that if we were to pay our borrowing back at the same rate we paid US loan back at end of World War Two we would not settle up until the 27th century.

Wednesday's budget is a remarkable response to a remarkable set of coronavirus induced circumstances.

It goes against every Tory instinct and will leave true blue Conservatives bewildered.

It is truly a major gamble with the entire future of Britain and we will just have to hope the Chancellor has the cards on his side.

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