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My grandfather's budget scoop saw off a chancellor – how times have changed My grandfather's budget scoop saw off a chancellor – how times have changed
(6 months later)
For generations, chancellors of the exchequer have known that premature disclosure of budget secrets could destroy a political career. Budget leaks have been especially dangerous since that fateful day in 1947 when the chancellor, Hugh Dalton, spilled the beans to my grandfather, John Carvel, lobby correspondent of a now defunct London evening paper, the Star.For generations, chancellors of the exchequer have known that premature disclosure of budget secrets could destroy a political career. Budget leaks have been especially dangerous since that fateful day in 1947 when the chancellor, Hugh Dalton, spilled the beans to my grandfather, John Carvel, lobby correspondent of a now defunct London evening paper, the Star.
Of course there was no Twitter then, which was used today by the young journalist at the Evening Standard to post the picture of the paper's embargoed front page before the chancellor had even uttered a word. But back then traditional newspaper technology could get news on to the streets much quicker than now. The printing presses were paused for a moment for a "stop press" box to be inserted, alerting readers to the tax changes the Attlee government was about to make. They included an extra penny on a pint of beer, something on dog racing and football pools and an increase in purchase tax – the forerunner of VAT.Of course there was no Twitter then, which was used today by the young journalist at the Evening Standard to post the picture of the paper's embargoed front page before the chancellor had even uttered a word. But back then traditional newspaper technology could get news on to the streets much quicker than now. The printing presses were paused for a moment for a "stop press" box to be inserted, alerting readers to the tax changes the Attlee government was about to make. They included an extra penny on a pint of beer, something on dog racing and football pools and an increase in purchase tax – the forerunner of VAT.
The paper hit the streets a few moments before Dalton stood up to speak.The paper hit the streets a few moments before Dalton stood up to speak.
Theoretically there was just enough time for an MP to have bought a copy at Westminster tube station and sprinted into the Commons chamber to wave it at Dalton, in much the same way that George Osborne was embarrassed today.Theoretically there was just enough time for an MP to have bought a copy at Westminster tube station and sprinted into the Commons chamber to wave it at Dalton, in much the same way that George Osborne was embarrassed today.
But the MPs were already crowded into the chamber waiting. There was no immediate embarrassment. A parliamentary inquiry later established that the leak had no economic consequences. Sterling did not falter. Nobody made a killing in the City. But the political consequences for Dalton were catastrophic. The leak provided Attlee with an excuse to get rid of him and install Stafford Cripps as chancellor.But the MPs were already crowded into the chamber waiting. There was no immediate embarrassment. A parliamentary inquiry later established that the leak had no economic consequences. Sterling did not falter. Nobody made a killing in the City. But the political consequences for Dalton were catastrophic. The leak provided Attlee with an excuse to get rid of him and install Stafford Cripps as chancellor.
Carvel had not been angling for a sensational story. He approached Dalton as a favour to a friend, Willie Alison of the Evening Standard, whose editor wanted to know what tipple Dalton would be drinking as fortification during the budget speech. Bizarrely, the answer was rum and milk.Carvel had not been angling for a sensational story. He approached Dalton as a favour to a friend, Willie Alison of the Evening Standard, whose editor wanted to know what tipple Dalton would be drinking as fortification during the budget speech. Bizarrely, the answer was rum and milk.
Dalton manoeuvred Carvel into a corner and told him the main points in the speech he was about to make, playfully making mock punches with each point. Hearing about this from talk within our family, I sense that Dalton never intended this as a leak and Carvel never intended it as a story that would unseat a chancellor.Dalton manoeuvred Carvel into a corner and told him the main points in the speech he was about to make, playfully making mock punches with each point. Hearing about this from talk within our family, I sense that Dalton never intended this as a leak and Carvel never intended it as a story that would unseat a chancellor.
The episode made budget secrecy a cardinal principle of British political life. Yes, there was always judicious briefing of journalists to prepare the ground to get a better reception on the big day. Kite flying and media management to lower people's expectations were routinely deployed among the black arts of politics. But the security around the budget speech itself was always tight.The episode made budget secrecy a cardinal principle of British political life. Yes, there was always judicious briefing of journalists to prepare the ground to get a better reception on the big day. Kite flying and media management to lower people's expectations were routinely deployed among the black arts of politics. But the security around the budget speech itself was always tight.
The leak in 1947 ended an honourable chancellor's career. Today's leak appears to threaten only the career of a hapless journalist. It may be that over the past 66 years the principle of political responsibility has changed more than the technology of news.The leak in 1947 ended an honourable chancellor's career. Today's leak appears to threaten only the career of a hapless journalist. It may be that over the past 66 years the principle of political responsibility has changed more than the technology of news.
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