Join here to continue next Tuesday 10.30
So how did the budget compare with your forecasts? Here is how the markets responded to the news – as broken by the OBR and then confirmed by the budget ( media 1 v democracy 0)
The market ended up liking the budget – certainly relative to expectations. How about you?
We will be doing our review of the budget on Tuesday – you’re welcome to join us.
Here’s what we were saying the day before the budget.
Here’s the FT’s assessment of the budget , the evening after the lunchtime speech by Rachel Reeves. Thanks FT
We’ll be serious about this for a moment next Tuesday!
Budget 2025: What you need to know
You can of course compare the Pension PlayPen’s version of what the speech should be with what the FT told us happened – on social media.
Being serious for a moment
You can join us on Tuesday to be a part of a little more social media as we record our reaction (see below).
But what we know for sure is that all the protocols that Torsten Bell had been trying to keep throughout the autumn were smashed by the OBR, a moment of the Pension Minister giving Rachel Reeves the new was caught live – it’s like watching your net bulge in the last minute.
Torsten the central defender must have had his heart in his hands as he got news of the OBR own-goal.
Having a Greta Garbo moment next Tuesday at 10.30am.
I’ve no idea why it’s called the Greta Garbo discussion but Steve Goddard’s Christened it so and if you scroll to the end of the blog you’ll get’s Byron’s musing on how Garbo is being dragged into this sordid social media advertisement!
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Coffee Morning – The Greta Garbo Budget….A discussion! CPD included
Type -Online
When – Tuesday 2nd December 2025 at 10:30am
You are cordially invited to attend our next Coffee Morning event.
Following the Budget on Wednesday 26th November 2025 we will be holding another “Round Table” debate on the Chancellors announcements…Is she holding on by her “fingernails”?
Our table panel will include Professor Mike Bromwich, Fiona O’Hara, John Quinlivan, Dr Con Keating, and Henry Tapper.
Join here or use the code below
Byron’s musing on Greta Garbo
At the time of her death in 1990, Greta Garbo’s estate had a net worth of $70 million, equivalent to approximately $170 million in today’s dollars.
Her wealth came not only from a successful acting career but also from her savvy investments and astute financial management.
or, do you mean
“Greta Garbo syndrome”, after the reclusive Hollywood actress, whose most famous on screen utterance was “I want to be alone” and “I just want to be alone” in 1932’s Grand Hotel?
It’s said to apply to a growing number of workers who seem to care little for socialising with their colleagues.
The Swedish actress claimed she never said, ‘I want to be alone,’ in a 1955 article in Life magazine.
“I only said, ‘I want to be let alone!’ There is all the difference.”
Thanks to this anonymous quote which has arrived since the original publication of this blog. It takes this line a little further.
The quote attributed to Garbo was in reply to a diminutive film director who had this interchangeDirector“I’m going to screw you?”Garbo“If you do, and I find out about it…..”