Quotes of the week

“We were all astonished to learn from the chancellor this morning that he was not a top-rate taxpayer. The hunt is now on for the name of his accountant, who will surely find himself in spectacular demand.”
Labour MP Angela Eagle.


"It is the determined policy of this Government to keep Wallace and Gromit exactly where they are!"
George Osborne gets a giggle from the Commons in the Budget, slamming Eds Balls and Miliband.


"Hands up in the Cabinet if you get a benefit from the income tax cut! Come on!"
Miliband strikes back at the coalition after the Budget.


“FE Trustnet are losing their best ever journalist. She’s irreplaceable.”
Rowan Dartington’s Tim Cockerill says a sad farewell to FE Trustnet senior reporter Lora Coventry on her last day.


“We are further away from the abyss than we were three months ago [but there are still areas] that need to be attacked with vigour.”
Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF.


“The UK has to be made a more viable place for businesses to be created and to thrive. I think the tax rates should come down in order to stimulate growth and employment. There should still be a wealth tax or property tax for the exceedingly rich, but I don't think people who have a good work ethic should be penalised as they are now. It's not much of an incentive to create and work hard if such a large portion of it is lining the coffers of the taxman. Having said that, stimulating growth is a complicated business and there are a large number of ways in which to go about it, which will inevitably be argued to death and slowed down by the politicians and their widely differing stances.”
Wales rugby star Gavin Henson gives his view on the economic climate.


“As the Americans say, 'We didn't hit a home run, we knocked the ball out of the park’.”
Tony O'Reilly Jr, CEO of Providence Resources, on striking oil off the coast of Ireland.