In Politics Weekly we ask whether Alistair Darling, who had a tricky start as chancellor, has recovered his reputation as one of the cabinet's safest pair of hands. His press coverage was not great this week, with one city economist telling the Guardian that he had unveiled a "Mother Hubbard" package with nothing in the cupboard despite recent years of plenty.
Angela Eagle, the Treasury minister, gave her boss top marks. She said he had delivered a budget for stability in uncertain times.
Philip Hammond, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, also gave the chancellor top marks - for being dull. Hammond highlighted the high levels of borrowing and blamed Gordon Brown for failing to prepare for the downturn during the benign years when he was chancellor.
William Keegan, the Observer's economics guru, who wrote an acclaimed biography of Gordon Brown, gave Darling reasonable marks for steering us through difficult times. But he didn't think this would go down as a memorable budget.
