As the Chancellor backs an inquiry into pre-budget leaks, Herald columnist Brian Taylor looks at the fundamental financial problems confronting us – especially in the NHS.

In politics, some endeavour is valuable. Much is questionable. And some initiatives are frankly futile: a waste of time and money.

Leak inquiries undoubtedly fall firmly in that last category. The culprit is seldom identified. Or, rather, is so well known in advance that it suits the system to cover up and move on.

And yet the Chancellor is apparently backing a formal in-house investigation into the disclosure by the Treasury of confidential information ahead of her budget.

Might I suggest to Ms Reeves that a quick glance in the mirror might usefully settle the matter?

Still, she has little option other than to comply. The Speaker of the Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is dischuffed with what he branded a “hokey cokey” budget process.

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Apparently, he adheres to the quaint concept that important government announcements should be delivered in the first instance to the elected House of Commons.

I mean, get real, your Speakership. Don’t you know this is the age of social media, of populist politics?

Aren’t the Chancellor and her acolytes entitled to test a few ideas first – before brandishing that tedious briefcase and announcing all those boring policies from that dull despatch box?

I don’t know, you’ll be telling me next that a person’s CV should be fully accurate when they apply for a job.........

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