Standards aren’t what they used to be in journalism.

Budget day is one of the great set-pieces in political journalism. After weeks of speculation, the media finally get the chance to report the real decisions. Today’s budget was Gordon Brown’s 10th – an extraordinary landmark, regardless of your view of the Chancellor’s decisions. It may – or may not – be his last before taking over as Labour leader and Prime Minister.

One senior journalist made a terrible howler today. Anne McElvoy of the London Evening Standard repeatedly referred to Brown’s achievement in completing a decade as chancellor. In two articles. Quick maths lesson for Ms McElvoy. Gordon Brown became Chancellor on Friday 2 May 1997. (A lovely warm day, I seem to remember.) Less than 9 years ago. Do the maths…