The placards sported by the army of angry landowners who rolled into Westminster last Tuesday sent a clear message to the prime minister, albeit while he was out of the country.
Scores of companies had written to the chancellor to plead their cause. The noisy protests and hurried government consultations conjured botched budgets of the past.
Inside the Treasury, the sense is that the budget landed as well as could have been expected, given that it will raise 40bn in tax.
Labour focus groups carried out on budget day suggested voters were mainly relieved that they won't be hit directly, via their payslips.
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