The British economy, still struggling from the aftereffects of the 2008 Global Economic Crisis and financial disaster, now has received another boot in its ribcage. Moody's, one of the three major credit rating agencies, has cut its assessment of the UK's sovereign debt form AAA to Aa1.

The news for George Osborne continues to get worse. YouGov's latest survey for the Sunday Times was conducted following the news that Britain's economy contracted by 0.7% in the second quarter of this year - a worse figure than most economists had predicted. Even if, as I suggested last week, the final revised figures are not as bad as this, the pressure for the time being on the Chancellor is growing more intense.

Today the contest is finely poised, because millions of voters are impressed with neither main party. Both Tories and Labour are caught together in a vortex of public condemnation. If one of them can escape the swirl and regain its credibility, it will be well placed for 2015.

There's absolutely no doubt that history will remember today's Budget as something of a crossroads for the country in an economic sense.

In the next few months, VisitEngland will spend some £4 million encouraging Brits to holiday at home instead of going abroad for their summer break.

In 2008 economies across the globe crashed as a worldwide shortage of cash liquidity brought the financial system to a standstill. Rather like a car that has run out of petrol, subsequent attempts to restart the engine have failed.

Sometimes the values that we pursue in public relations can put wider social and economic issues into context. Trust is one of those values.

In response to Chancellor George Osborne’s recent Autumn Statement, the Labour Party was deeply critical of the economic policies of the coalition, ...

The most important reason for welcoming newcomers is that they bring bright new ideas. No rich country is going to allow unlimited immigration from poor ones any time soon. But if we shut all the doors and windows, it's going to be awfully dark in here.

This week's two big domestic events could shape the next few months, and even years, of British politics. They might leave the Conservatives lauded as heroes who steered our economy through troubled waters - or as incompetent ninnies who badly mismanaged tough times. Will George Osborne end up as hero or zero: as Clark Kent or Inspector Clousseau?

With this government, it's business as usual when business itself is saying loud and clear - now is the time for change and reform.

So, CPI inflation in the UK has reached a record high of 5.2% since CPI data began, matching the previous record of September 2008. This is now the 22nd month in a row that the Bank of England has missed its target - and not just by a little amount.

When it comes to managing the public finances, one would think that avoiding making commitments to spend £32 billion on a capital project with dubious and unproven economic and social benefits would rank quite highly in the current climate.

David Cameron was a little misleadingly reported this morning as advising British households to pay back credit card debt. In fact he said that they were doing so and implied that this was a good idea.

In a speech addressing the Conservative Party Conference today, Chancellor George Osborne focused on outlining a number of steps to deal with the country's debt and stimulate growth; the two key messages that he and the Prime Minister have been emphasising during this Conference.