Taoiseach denies budget intended to safeguard Fine Gael government

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted tomorrow’s budget is “not an election budget” despite a flurry of leaks confirming it will focus on key voter groups Fine Gael needs to stay in power.

Mr Varadkar denied charge at Fine Gael’s presidential dinner at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on Saturday just 24 hours after the Government revealed an extra €1.1bn in corporation tax has been unexpectantly found.