Darling denies stealing Tory ideas

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Mr Darling said he had been working on the changes that were made on Tuesday since he had become Chancellor.

"I don't think anybody has a monopoly on one particular idea or another," he told BBC Breakfast.

"Surely what people are looking for is a long-term vision for the country? That is why yesterday I announced increases in expenditure in education.

"I have also put in place a long-term framework for this country, so that we have got stability, we can keep interest rates down, we can keep inflation down, that helps people's living standards."

Shadow chancellor George Osborne claimed the mini-Budget showed the Government was "extremely weak and tired" after 10 years in office.

He told GMTV: "This is ultimate confirmation that you have a Government that is absolutely exhausted after 10 years in office, has tried everything and has failed."

Speaking later on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Darling insisted that yesterday's tax moves had been under consideration for some time.

"I gave an interview just after I became Chancellor (in June), in which I said I was looking at a full range of tax issues," he said.

"I said I would make my announcements not then but in the Pre-Budget Report or in the Budget next spring. "I've done that and that's what I intend to do."