17 APRIL 1971, Page 29

Budget speeches

Sir: Hugh Macpherson (3 April) maintains that Budget speeches have made political reputations in the past, and he cites Gladstone's !Meech in 1853 and Lloyd George's In 1909 as worthy examples. While the Budget of 1909 may have made Lloyd George's polit- ical reputation, his Budget speech certainly did not. It was poorly delivered and there were a number of people in the House who were convinced that the Chancellor didn't really understand the measures he was proposing.

Robert Behrens Anerley Road, Didsbury, anchester