The Scotsman cartoon: Budget bingo with Grant Shapps

Illustration: Brian AdcockIllustration: Brian Adcock
Illustration: Brian Adcock
Conservative chairman Grant Shapps caused a Twitter storm when he unveiled a Conservative party advert highlighting Budget measures to cut bingo hall tax and beer prices.

The image claims changes revealed in the Budget would “help hardworking people do more of the things they enjoy”. The penny off a pint of beer and the halving of Bingo duty to 10 per cent were minor measures in a Budget dominated by help for pensioners and savers.

But Mr Shapps attempted to give them greater exposure, encouraging people to “spread the word” on Twitter - leading to a series of messages ridiculing the advert.