He challenged his Welsh counterpart Leighton Andrews directly: ""I hope that the Education Minister in Wales will embrace the progressive reforms that this coalition government has put forward.
But it could deal a mortal blow to Mr Blair's project to form a progressive anti-Conservative coalition at national level with the Liberal Democrats, and to portray the Scottish coalition as a shining precursor.
"With an increase of the millionaire's tax and a significant increase in the minimum wage, this budget takes strong steps to address income inequality, " said Michael Kink of the Strong Economy for All coalition of progressive groups.