No budget giveaway as polls show differing results – 8 in the morning, March 12th

8am

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* Two new polls last night tell quite different stories, with the Tory lead at 3 in the YouGov tracker, and 13 in an Angus Reid survey.

* Alastair Darling says there will be no budget “giveaway” in two weeks time.

* Liam Byrne has said the budget will include no new VAT or other tax rises.

* Civil servants plan to merge the press offices of Number 10 and the Cabinet Office, which would mean a more powerful Downing Street media office after the election.

* The three MPs and peer facing prosecution over expense claims have tried to invoke “parliamentary privilege” to make their not guilty case.

* John Prescott says “we’re in a fight, and we’re going to win!”

* Nick Clegg is being warned that any attempt to strike a formal deal with a minority Tory government after the next election could split his party.

* Nicolas Sarkozy will be in London today, and will meet Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

More from LabourList

DONATE HERE

Proper journalism comes at a cost.

LabourList relies on donations from readers like you to continue our news, analysis and daily newsletter briefing. 

If you value what we do, set up a regular donation today.

DONATE HERE