David Maddox: Budget gossip

The chat in the Westminster bubble today centred on the mystery of what could be Labour's last budget for some time.
The dates mooted have been next Wednesday (17 March) or the Wednesday afterwards.
The first, as mentioned in a previous blog, would mean that we would probably have an 15 April general election, the second a 6 May election.
But the reason for the gossip is that it is common practice - convention even - for the government to give at least four weeks notice for a budget. At the morning press briefing it was pointed out that even if the budget takes place on 24 March it would be the shortest notice period given for one ever.
But as the day moved on there were some suggesting that actually we are all mistaken in expecting a budget before the election.
The words from Gordon Brown on the Andrew Marr show which has led to this assumption were: "There will be a budget in the spring." He did not specifically promise a pre-election budget.
Strictly speaking even if there is an election on 6 May, a budget could take place afterwards before 21 June, which is the first official day of summer.
As convention is out of the window in terms of warning for a budget, it is also possible that it won't take place on Wednesday.
As you can tell people excited about strange things in Westminster.