Look, say the pundits, at the net effect of his new lower income-tax band (starting next month), the cut in the basic rate of income tax from 23% to 22%, the changes to national insurance, the abolition of the married couples' tax allowance and the mortgage-interest allowance (all starting a year from now), the new child tax credit (from 2001), etc.

ECONOMIST: Toil and muddle

But what the chancellor has given with one hand, he has taken away with the other for example, by abolishing mortgage-interest tax relief and the married couple's allowance.

ECONOMIST: Labour and tax

There will now be no second home allowance or claims for food, furniture and fittings, fuel, mortgage interest, rent or council tax.

BBC: In full: MP expenses reform plans