Once a year there's a moment of truth for the nation's finances,

when the Chancellor of the Exchequer gets to his feet in the House of Commons to deliver the budget.

My name's Mike Greenwood, and I've been talking to parliamentarians, historians, tax experts,

and one former Chancellor of the Exchequer, to give you a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes of this national institution.

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer. Yes!

Mr Deputy Speaker, it is a great honour and privilege to deliver a tenth budget.

It's one of those rare occasions in Parliament with what's said today can actually affect you tomorrow.

It's the politicians standing up there and saying exactly how they're going to affect your life.

It is a budget to advance the ambition of all.

Money continues to be central to politics and what you can do is very much set by how much

money you can possibly raise to do it.

So this budget will take no risks with inflation. It's one of the occasions

when you can guarantee the chamber is packed, partly because it's political theatre. And I commend it to the

house. My first one was an absolute triumph where I expected to be hanged at the end and found

everybody was praising me. My worst one was one where triumph where I expected to be hanged at the end and found everybody

was praising me. My worst one was one where I sent everybody to sleep. The budgets a unique

combination of fiscal policy, parliamentary process and political theatre. For many within the House

of Commons, it's the highlight of the parliamentary year. For the public, it's the moment we hear what the tax

mum will take over the next 12 months. And holding centre stage is the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Kenneth Clark knows a thing or two about budgets. As a seasoned politician, he's seen many a budget

day, and he took the spotlight himself as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1993 to 1997.

The British are almost unique, I think, in turning their annual budget day into a kind of public festival.

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