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On 18 March the Chancellor, George Osborne, is to set out what he calls the "critical choice" facing the country in his last Budget before the election.

The former Conservative chancellor, Kenneth Clarke, said Mr Osborne has done a good job of "saving the country from economic disaster".

"Nobody remembers the individual measures, none of them are worth a vote. The key thing to get across is that he has done a good job of saving the country from economic disaster,鈥� said Mr Clarke.

Former Labour Treasury minister Kitty Ussher argues that the chancellor prioritises political tactics over doing the right thing for the country.

鈥淕eorge Osborne is a politician first, a very shrewd tactician, and does the right thing for the country second,鈥� said Ms Ussher.

Mr Osborne has already said there will be "no give-aways" or "gimmicks" - but he is expected to relax some austerity measures and reduce some taxes, particularly for lower earners and savers.