Richard Lambert, CBI director-general, said that the current unstable economic climate was not a suitable time to introduce such measures, also imploring the Alistair Darling to deliver a concise, six-paragraph speech mentioning no new initiatives.

Lambert even produced a draft budget speech on behalf of the Chancellor, to provide him with suggested suitable wording.

Despite the seriousness of his request, however, Lambert acknowledged that it was “more in hope than expectation.”