1. What exactly is supposed/expected to happen if/when the national deficit is reduced to a level which is deemed acceptable? The government, whoever they are (unless this happens to coincide neatly with a general election) are hardly going to thank us all for our hard work and give us our 2.5% VAT back and re-arrange the taxing structure to take the ease of lower-income families ETC ETC, are they?

2. Regarding the whole issue of City bonuses, is there realistically anything a government could do about it if they wanted?