Howlin has his day but policies of pain remain the same

WITH the economy sinking faster than the Titanic, it was grimly fitting Brendan Howlin should deliver an iceberg budget — with its huge dollop of nastiness lurking deep below the chilly surface.

Mr Howlin, who demanded his day doling out the bad news to make sure Labour looks like less like guests in government and more like partners, did not dirty his hands with the details during his 33-minute misery speech.

Cuts to the disabled, child benefit, rent supplement and pensioners in fuel poverty — indeed, just about everyone Labour promised to protect — were rapidly glossed over.