The Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report was a "blatant piece of electioneering" that showed no signs of a bid for the Labour leadership, according to Philip Webster, left, The Times Political Editor.

Webster said speculation that Mr Brown would use the report to outline his bid as a successor to Blair proved unfounded. "It was pretty short on that vision. He may have toned it down because of all the talk about a leadership bid.

"It's not a speech that Tony Blair would have argued with. The message was: 'Let's get re-elected'.

"Labour MPs loved it and saw it as a blatant piece of re-electioneering. There were a lot of very eye-catching sweeteners that are relatively cheap to implement, like extra payments for the elderly, childcare strategies, extra maternity pay and frozen fuel duties. It was like a real budget rather than a pre-budget report."

Webster said that the most significant item was the Government's £1 billion pledge to keep council tax rises down.

Council tax changes take effect every April - in time for a possible general election on May 5. Webster added: "There could be another giveaway in the full Budget which is held just before the potential May 5 polling day.

"Brown has stayed within his much vaunted 'golden rule' but he's done it by projecting a more confident growth forecast than the Bank of England. It said that the country would grow by 2.5 per cent, but Mr Brown has said it could be up to 3.5 per cent."

Webster said: "There's scepticism that he can make it on those figures and a lot of speculation about who will suffer over finding the extra money. There will be some hidden losers."

Oliver Letwin, the Shadow Chancellor, branded Mr Brown "Sir Wastealot" and attacked the Government's record on debt and red tape.

He said the golden rule was "dross" and added: "He is spending, borrowing and taxing so much because he is not getting value for taxpayer's money."

Vincent Cable, Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman, accused the Chancellor of complacency over making tough decisions on the economy.

But Webster said that the Chancellor is "in such a strong position" that these attacks will have little lasting effect on his reputation.

He added: "The Opposition tend to come back more effectively two or three days later, once they have had a chance to analyse the report."

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