Gordon Brown announced yesterday that his ninth Budget would be published on March 16.

The chancellor said his financial statement would set out his vision of making Britain a world leader in science, education, and enterprise.

This year's Budget is being viewed by both Brown and party strategists as a springboard for a May general election.

Saying that he had visited "dozens of constituencies" during the past few months, Brown added: "I will play whatever part I am asked to. The first thing I have to do is the Budget."

Labour sources have suggested that Brown would be able to spend around £5 billion on a combination of extra spending and tax cuts.