Interesting Budget facts

Search: More quirky Budget facts

- Share your Budget views
- Tax tips and tools

Budget day is steeped in political tradition and symbolism. Here are some of the quirky and interesting reasons to see more behind the day than perhaps meets the eye:

• Since May 1997, Chancellor's have delivered two big economic speeches a year. The main Budget in the Spring (usually March or April) and the less significant pre-Budget report in the Autumn (usually November).

• The word 'budget' is derived from an old French word 'bourgette' which means 'little bag'.

• The 'Budget box', or 'Gladstone box' as it is known, in it's traditional scarlet leather with satin lining, has been used to carry the Chancellor's speech to the House of Commons from Number 11 (the Chancellor's residence on Downing Street) since 1860.

• The tradition was broken by James Callaghan in 1965 and 1966, when he used a brown case bearing the monogram 'EIIR'.

• There is only one Chancellor who has failed to deliver his speech. The Tory Chancellor, Tory Iain Macleod, who died soon after his appointment in 1970.

• In a quirky piece of history, Chancellors are allowed to lubricate their vocal chords with alcholic drinks during the speech, no other member may do this.

• When Norman Lamont was Chancellor in the early 1990s, the famous red briefcase contained a bottle of whisky. The speech was carried separately.

• Chancellors who have drunk alcohol when giving the speech include Winston Churchill, Hugh Dalton and Selwyn Lloyd.

• Gordon Brown opted for Scottish mineral water.

• One of the best Budget lines goes to Derick Heathcoat-Amery: "There are three things not worth running for - a bus, a woman or a new economic panacea. If you wait a bit, another one will come along."

• In 1986, Nigel Lawson's speech was suspended after the Scottish Nationalists intervened and caused furore in the House of Commons.

• In Chancellor R A Butler's 1953 Budget, he announced that the sugar ration would be increased from 10oz to 12oz a week so that the nation would have enough to make celabratory cakes for the Queen's Coronation that year.