A prediction: Osborne's budget will not solve Britain's problems | John Harris

The interesting question is not what George Osborne will say on Wednesday, but whether Ed Balls dares set out his alternative A statement of the blindingly obvious, to start. For all the talk of moves on childcare, fuel duty, infrastructure and the rest, Wednesday's budget will surely fall far short of what the moment actually demands. This critique will be heard from both left and right: the Tories' opponents will repeat those well-worn lines about austerity being the road to disaster and...