The budget

Conservative party supporters wear Alistair Darling facemasks as they make their way to protest outside the Treasury ahead of this year's budget statement Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

Alistair Darling prepares for an interview prior to his first budget, in his study at 11 Downing Street Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty

The budget box sits in the Chancellor's study Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Getty

Number 11 Downing Street - the official residence of the chancellor of the exchequer Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

Alistair Darling holds Disraeli's original budget box outside Number 11 Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

Alistair Darling leaves Number 11 to present the budget to parliament Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty

Alistair Darling and his team: (from l) Yvette Cooper (chief secretary to the Treasury), Angela Eagle (exchequer secretary to the Treasury) and Jane Kennedy (financial secretary to the Treasury) Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

Alistair Darling delivers his budget speech in the House of Commons Photograph: PA

The Conservative party front bench react to the budget proposals Photograph: PA