Osborne's shrewd Budget has 2015 election in mind

BRITISH Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has pressed the starter button for the May 2015 General Election with a shrewd baby-boomer Budget.

Knowing fully well that, historically, older Britons have been keener to go to the ballot box than younger, poorer voters, he has offered some relief to hard-pressed savers and also begun reforming the country's antiquated pension system.

To cut unemployment and keep all potential voters happy, he has put in place incentives for corporate investment and exports, and will also continue subsidising loans for first-time buyers of newly built homes.