WHILE not quite being all things to all men, and women, Gordon Brown has managed to produce a Budget which pleases most of them.

At the heart of his Budget is the work ethic which makes being in employment financially preferable to drawing benefits.

It seems an obvious solution to the problem of unemployment but it's one that has not been properly tried before.

In his determination to get people back to work, the Chancellor is offering a minimum £180 a week income for families where someone works full time and has given an assurance that earnings under £220 will not be taxed. He is also introducing a new National Insurance structure for employers so that it will be cheaper to recruit workers at the lower end of the pay scale.

These positive and sensible moves should get many people off benefits and into work and are to be applauded.

He has also succeeded in finding money for health, education and transport which is good for the country not only now but long term.

The Budget is not finding favour in all quarters, of course. William Hague has attacked it as a "nanny state" Budget which has short-changed the family.

But we think the Budget is moving generally in the right direction. Only time will tell if it is moving far enough.

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