Minister, an awful lot of people need to see your caring side now

DEAR MINISTER, I know this is the busiest and most difficult time of year for you. Every Minister for Finance faces an enormous range of choices in the run-up to the budget, and this year will be no exception.

You’ve already had lots of battles, I’m sure, during the estimates campaign.

Even though we tend not to hear a lot about what’s going on during that process, I know from previous experience that you will have been confronted by ministers from all over the place who have argued that their priorities are make-or-break for the whole Government.