The Chancellor met critics who described his governing style as "Stalinist" head-on today with a well-received opening gag.

Smiling before he even got to the punchline, Gordon Brown said his thanks were due to the Civil Service for their hard work and, "on occasions, their forthright advice" in preparing his Budget.

What appeared to be a veiled reference to reported tensions between Mr Brown and former top civil servant Lord Turnbull drew cheers and laughter from the House of Commons and a smile from Prime Minister Tony Blair, sitting behind him.

But there was more to come in the form of a knowing aside from Mr Brown: "Or should I say Comrades'?".

Mr Blair chuckled as the rest of the House guffawed.

Mr Brown had earlier warmed up the audience for his 11th Budget with a joke about his leadership ambitions.

He said: "I am told that in the last two centuries only one other Chancellor has delivered 11 budgets, and then a 12th, and that was when Mr Gladstone combined the position of Chancellor with Prime Minister."

Government ministers on the frontbench smiled politely as backbenchers and opposition MPs laughed loudly.

Mr Brown allowed the laughter to subside a little before adding: "Something, Deputy Speaker, no-one should ever contemplate doing again."

The Stalinist jibe was included in a scathing attack from Mr Brown's former top civil servant Lord Turnbull, who went on to be head of the Civil Service.

Although the ex-mandarin said later that he had not intended his remarks to be quoted, they caused a furore at Westminster yesterday.