""He can also play 3D chinese chess and skateboard at the same time, whilst simultaneously gently hatching out a sparrows egg with the gentle warmth of his hand.""

That is unworthy of you Lox. Whether you agree with me or not.

We are discussing a specific issue.

Osborne is not imposing the increase in National Insurance which Brown has announced, except on employees earning in excess of (as far as I recall) £150,000.

That is undisputed fact, which even Gordon Brown is not denying.

How he is going to pay for it is another matter, though I don't quite see the argument of how you pay for something you don't do.

The fact is that Brown has based his intended program (if he wins), at least partially on his much mentioned efficiency savings of 11 Billion.

Supposing he loses, Tory priorities may be different, and they will be in a position to use that 11 Billion as they wish.

It won't vanish if Brown loses, unless of course he has found some obliging Nigerian to help him transfer it to an untraceable account.

Don T.